Bloomberg's Girlfriend to Run for Senate?

She appears to be a towering political figure, as in she towers over the diminutive nanny-stater. On the upside, she's a Republican, unlike her boyfriend, who changes party affiliation as often as most people change their socks.

The Republican search for a strong candidate to take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has arrived at one of the most intriguing possibilities yet -- former state banking superintendent (and de-facto Big Apple first lady) Diana Taylor.

Multiple sources confirm that Taylor was approached by some Washington-based Republicans privately to gauge whether she had an interest in making a play for the seat, which is already being looked at by a string of Republicans -- all men.

It wasn't immediately clear who made the ask, and officials at the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee couldn't immediately be reached. Neither could Taylor, who the sources said hasn't yet closed the door on the possibility.

Taylor is a registered Republican and has a lengthy resume in public service, including serving twice in the Pataki administration -- first as deputy secretary and then as banking superintendent starting in 2003. She later went on to the Wolfensohn Family Foundation, where she has spent the past few years working on global issues.

Prior to the banking superintendent post, she was involved in coordinating the state authorities for Gov. Pataki -- at a time when the World Trade Center rebuilding process was just beginning.

She's also Mayor Bloomberg's longtime girlfriend -- the two have been together for ten years, since meeting at a Citizens Budget Commission event. And while many believe she's highly qualified and would be a strong female challenger to the female Democratic incumbent, it would almost certainly be a brutal campaign.