Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand raised $2.3 million in the first quarter of 2009, the beginnings of what she hopes to be an imposing war chest for the defense of her New York Senate seat in 2010.

“I wanted to personally thank you for your support and let you be the first to know that thanks to an overwhelming show of support from voters all over New York, our campaign shattered our goals,” Gillibrand wrote in an e-mail to supporters sent Monday morning.

Gillibrand was appointed to the seat by Gov. David A. Paterson in late January to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton after Clinton was confirmed as secretary of State.