New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s female Democratic colleagues are rallying around her as she prepares for a tough primary and general election, with a fundraiser next week in Washington, D.C.

An evening of “cocktails and conversation” hosted by the 12 Democratic senators at Louisiana Sen. Mary L. Landrieu’s Washington, D.C., home is scheduled April 29th.

Those interested in co-hosting are asked to give $5,000 per political action committee or $4,800 per individual — the maximum allowed in an election cycle — with sponsors asked to give $2,500 per PAC and $2,400 per individual.

The fundraiser is a sign that Gillibrand is keeping her well-oiled fundraising machine chugging after an impressive first quarter where she raised $2.3 million and reported $2.2 million cash on hand. And such solidarity for Gillibrand’s candidacy in Washington could bode ill for New York Democrats interested in challenging her in 2010 — among them Reps. Steve Israel, Carolyn B. Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy.