Klein raps may be Dem plan’s kiss of death

ALBANY — The sexual harassment claim by a former staffer against powerful state Sen. Jeffrey Klein could imperil the effort to reunify the fractured state Senate Democrats, insiders say.

Under a plan pushed by allies of Gov. Cuomo and agreed to by the mainline Democrats and Klein’s group of eight breakaway Dems known as the Independent Democratic Conference, the two sides would form a new leadership coalition if the party wins enough seats to control the chamber.

The deal was already considered fragile given the animosity between the two sides. But the recent allegation that Klein (photo inset) forcibly kissed a staffer outside an Albany bar — a claim the Bronx senator has vehemently denied — would likely give the mainline Democrats pause over whether he should be allowed to be a coleader of the chamber, several insiders said.

On top of that, Independent Democratic Conference members are said to be livid with the mainline Dems for what they believe is their helping foster what they consider a political hit job.

Before going public with her story to The Huffington Post, the ex-staffer, Erica Vladimer, spoke with Sen. Liz Krueger (D-Manhattan). Krueger said she was unaware the staffer worked for Klein until a day before the piece was published

“You probably can’t have any kind of change . . . until this is resolved,” veteran Democratic operative Hank Sheinkopf said. “It wouldn’t make sense.”

Three Democratic insiders agreed. “He’s damaged goods,” one said of Klein. “I think a deal with him is going to be very difficult.”

The source said he expects mainline Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins “is going to let this play out a little bit to see if others come forward. If it approaches something like what happened with U.S. Sen. Al Franken, should there be other accusers, I can’t see (Klein being a coleader) happening.”

Spokesmen for the mainline Dems and the Independent Democratic Conference had no comment.

Veteran Democratic consultant George Arzt said it’s too soon to say what kind of impact the controversy swirling around Klein will have on the potential Senate Democratic reunification. “It has to play out,” he said.

But another Democratic source suggested that if somehow the reunification deal holds, the Independent Democratic Conference would need someone other than Klein, like Sen. Diane Savino of Staten Island or David Valesky of Syracuse, to serve as the chamber’s with StewartCousins. co-leader

The Working Families Party and others aligned with the mainline Dems called Friday on Klein to relinquish his Senate leadership post.

“We believe Sen. Klein’s response attempting to discredit the former employee who accused him was unacceptable,” the party said.

“Based on that conduct and the seriousness of the charges, the (Working Families Party) calls on both the (Independent Democratic Conference) and the Senate to remove him from his leadership posts until the investigation is completed.”

It’s unlikely the Senate Republicans, who are currently in a leadership coalition with Klein and his conference, will take action against Klein.

Since Vladimer came forward last week with her story, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk) has praised Klein even while saying the chamber takes sexual harassment seriously.