Despite a poll showing him in last place in the three-way race for the 33rd District Senate seat and all the endorsements and funding going to his fellow challenger, Dan Padernacht still believes he has a chance to emerge victorious in the Democratic primary on Sept. 14.

“I think I’m the best candidate and I can do the best job,” Padernacht said last week.

Padernacht, a third generation resident of Kingsbridge Heights who practices law out of an office on Sedgwick Avenue, said his community credential will go a long way with voters. I think people are more likely to connect to me because I’m a community insider,” he said. “People will be able to relate to me.”

Padernacht said his opponents, the incumbent Pedro Espada, Jr. and fellow challenger Gustavo Rivera, were both community outsiders.

Two years ago, while working as a legal intern with the Bronx County Democratic Committee, Padernacht said he compiled a boat-load of evidence pointing to Espada lying about having his permanent residence within the district, but a judge ruled in favor of Espada. (Espada owns a condo in Bedford Park, but is widely believed to spend most of his time at his home in Mamaroneck.)

Padernacht, a member of Community Board 8, added that most of Rivera’s resume is full of experience as a political aide in Albany, but lacking in community involvement. “He’s a community outsider, but an Albany insider,” he said. (Rivera counters that he’s lived in the district for 10 years and his work for progressive elected officials has been on behalf of local residents.)

Padernacht added, “I think in the end of the day, people will say, ‘he’s from the neighborhood, he’s going to stand by us.’”

In the end, Padernacht said he’s happy to let the voters decide. “That’s democracy. That’s our political system. That’s America.”