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Former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford is on a listening tour of New York, and he is not unhappy with what he's hearing.

"I'm getting some encouragement from people across this state, and mainly across this city, who thinks that there could be a stronger, more independent voice in the U.S. Senate," he said Friday.

Ford met with Manhattan Democratic Chairman Keith Wright in Harlem and Bronx State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson in Wakefield, Bronx. Neither official told Ford to stay out of the race either, unlike others higher in power.

"I'm just happy that he took the time and gave me the respect as one of the leaders here in the Bronx," said Hassell-Thompson.

Ford is expected to participate in more photo-ops and an upcoming upstate swing, and will probably typecast Senator Kirsten Gillibrand as a virtual political puppet of Washington power-brokers.

"I didn't take orders when I was in Congress other than the people in Memphis who elected me, and if I run here in New York and I'm blessed to win, I wouldn't take orders other than from the people in New York," said Ford.

Gillibrand says she's her own person, and her coffers are larger than Ford's. Advisors say Ford would have to raise upwards of $15 million, but he has been heartened by a recent Marist University poll that shows a surprisingly close race, even if it hasn't officially begun.

Forty-three percent of Democratic voters back Gillibrand, 24 percent support Ford and 33 percent are undecided.

That news put Gillibrand on the defensive Friday.

"I'm not really paying attention to the polls. What I'm paying attention to is the economy, the unemployment rate and some of the terrible tragedy coming out of Haiti," said Gillibrand.

Ford's advisors are banking on a three-pronged strategy: capitalizing on the appetite for change, promoting the belief that Gillibrand is too beholden to others and defending Wall Street, New York's biggest industry.

While Wall Street has much of the nation sharpening their pitchforks, Ford, who works for a financial firm, is emerging as its one of its defenders and sounds similar of Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The mayor's former campaign manager is a top Ford advisor, and Bloomberg supporters are encouraging him.

Ford says he hasn't talked with the mayor about the senatorial election.

Whoever is the Democratic nominee faces a narrowing Republican field. Larchmont Mayor Liz Feld has dropped out, leaving Long Island businessman Bruce Blakeman as the biggest name left.