Gov. David A. Paterson will campaign Sunday on Long Island for two Democrats seeking to defeat veteran Republican state senators, officials said yesterday.

Paterson was expected to speak at a 2 p.m. rally for Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley at the Portuguese American Center in Brentwood. Foley wants to oust state Sen. Caesar Trunzo (R-Brentwood) in the most competitive of the Island’s nine Senate races.

Paterson also will be in Hempstead for a 3 p.m. rally for lawyer Kristen McElroy, who hopes to score an upset over state Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City). The contest had been a sleeper until a surge of new voters tipped party enrollment to favor the Democrats.

The Island rallies, together with campaign stops in Buffalo tomorrow, represent Paterson’s increased participation in his party’s quest to end 43 years of Republican control of the legislature’s upper house. The move also further exacerbates frayed relations between Paterson and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) as they grapple with a $1.5-billion deficit in this year’s budget.

Paterson’s visit to Nassau and Suffolk counties two days before Tuesday’s elections will be a tonic for campaign workers and hopefully boost voter turnout, party leaders said. “This gives all the volunteers a much-needed boost of energy; everybody is tired at the end,” said Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman.

Jay Jacobs, the Nassau Democratic chairman, agreed, saying Paterson’s support would boost awareness of McElroy and “encourage people to keep voting further on down the ballot.”

Republicans were dismayed at Paterson’s involvement in the fight for Senate control. They said the governor had promised no intervention to both Skelos and former Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. “It’s sad and unfortunate but the governor broke his word,” said a Senate GOP official who requested anonymity. “What does that say about trying to deal with the state’s severe problems if the governor can’t keep his word.” A Paterson campaign spokesman did not return calls seeking comment.

In Manhattan yesterday, Paterson said he does not believe his relationship with Skelos will sour because of the campaign. “Senator Skelos is a friend of mine, and we used to argue and bicker when we were both floor leaders in the Senate. We always got over it,” the governor added.

Paterson, when he led Senate Democrats, was the architect of a takeover plan that has brought them within two seats of running the Senate. For weeks, he’s raised money for Democratic challengers, publicly endorsed at least four, but so far hasn’t hit the hustings.

Joe Conway of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee said, “the governor will do what the governor will do, but nothing can change the fact that our positive message … is clearly connecting with voters across the state.”

Source: Newsday