"I have no fear," he told me.

We spoke within earshot of Saturday's Obamathon, so the audio is a little less than ideal.

A transcript of the short interview is below.

The Perkins Interview

ME
Do you have any hesitation or fear that David Paterson, or Eliot or someone in the state party might treat you differently now?

BP
I have no fear.

ME
Do you expect it though?

BP
I expect that others will join the campaign to support the kind of issues and concerns that are only being represented by Barack Obama right now. And therefore, I think others will join in supporting him that are state elected.

ME
You don’t think there’s going to be any kind of payback, or singling you out for any kind of special treatment?

BP
Well, so far, I’ve been getting a lot of love and support from the people who are most important in terms of this community. That’s where, I think, I rest my fears and where my confidence that I’m doing the right thing is fortified.