Allies of Gov. Paterson and Rep. Charlie Rangel are plotting to oust a state senator who dared to speak out against the embattled duo.

Allies of Gov. Paterson and Rep. Charlie Rangel are plotting to oust a state senator who dared to speak out against the embattled duo.

The Democratic machine is actively shopping for a primary challenger to Sen. Bill Perkins, framing his independent stance as a biblical betrayal of Harlem's elder statesmen.

"It's on the level of Judas," one Harlem Democrat said. "He's for himself and not for the team. ... We would love to get him out of there because he's driving us crazy."

Three young party operatives - Rodney Capel, Larry Scott Blackmon and Basil Smikle - have been floated as possible candidates for the seat in central Harlem.

Perkins has always been a bit of a lone wolf, breaking with the Democratic establishment in 2008 to back Barack Obama for President over hometown favorite Hillary Clinton.

Black leaders were stunned in February when Perkins broke ranks and said Paterson shouldn't seek reelection after a report that he interfered in his top aide's domestic violence case.

Perkins' words were a particular betrayal because he holds Paterson's old Senate seat.

"We were under attack," a Harlem Democrat said. "When the media's after a black leader, we sort of close ranks. ..It's an unwritten rule."

Paterson has since said he won't run this fall, and his alleged involvement in his top aide's domestic violence case is being investigated by the office of his onetime likely primary opponent, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Perkins also angered Rangel supporters by refusing to rule out a run against the veteran congressman, who was forced to give up his powerful chairmanship after being admonished by the House ethics committee.

Both Blackmon and Smikle worked on Mayor Bloomberg's successful bid for a third term last fall. Blackmon landed a postcampaign job with the Bloomberg administration.

Smikle, who also once worked for Clinton, is a consultant. Capel is a former aide to Council Speaker Christine Quinn who is now a lobbyist.

Also mulling a challenge to Perkins is Brian Benjamin, a fund-raiser connected to Harlem political consultant Bill Lynch, whose top clients are Paterson and Rangel.

Running against an incumbent like Perkins would be difficult. He is popular with constituents, well-known in the district and had a campaign war chest of $77,224 as of mid-January.

Talk of finding someone to take on Perkins will be moot if he abandons his seat to challenge Rangel. Asked Sunday if he plans to enter the race, Perkins said, "I have to call you back." He did not do so.

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Bruce Blakeman's hiring of veteran fund-raiser Cathy Blaney shows former Sen. Alphonse D'Amato has his fingerprints all over the race.

Blaney, a longtime D'Amato ally, has also raised money for former Gov. George Pataki, and her signing up with Blakeman may be another sign that Pataki may skip the race.

D'Amato has endorsed Blakeman, but observers speculate he may be hedging his bets by backing a low-profile candidate like Blakeman against Democratic incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

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