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Along with Puerto Rican flags, floats and music at the Puerto Rican Day Parade along Manhattan's Fifth Avenue on Sunday were political signs and politicians themselves. Among the marching lawmakers was the man at the center of Albany's maelstrom, State Senator Malcolm Smith.

On Friday, Albany State Supreme Court Judge Thomas McNamara gave lawmakers the weekend to work out their differences after last Monday's Republican coup, in which Democrats Hiram Monserrate and Pedro Espada joined with the GOP to oust Smith as Senate Majority Leader.

Democrats sued over the power grab, saying it was illegal.

The judge said he would issue a ruling Monday if lawmakers would not decide on their own.

There were also recent rumors that Smith could be voted out and replaced with Senator John Sampson of Brooklyn.

Smith, however, refused to address the political uncertainties on Sunday.

"Right now, it's more about Puerto Rican Day pride," said Smith. "Our conference is very united, looking forward to getting the business done, looking forward to getting back to work. That's the most important thing."

However, Monserrate said he would not support the Democrats if Smith was still in charge.

Democratic leaders and fellow Latino lawmakers at the parade stated that Monserrate should return to the Democrats.

"If you're going to possibly change, you should have told the public that before the election, not after," said Governor David Paterson.

"We're all in this together," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "And Malcolm has always pushed for legislation, and pushed for policies that have benefitted the Puerto Rican and Latino community and the bronx, so he's feeling that out here."

There was more than just state politics at the parade. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his expected rival, City Comptroller William Thompson, also vied for important votes.

Thompson also got the endorsement of Fernando Ferrer, Bloomberg's opponent from his last mayoral race, who then took a knock at Bloomberg's fiscal bona fides.

"If this mayor, who also in his previous life owns a financial information company warned us all about the credit meltdown and the derivatives meltdown and the mortgage meltdown, I must have missed that speech," said Ferrer.

Bloomberg's camp declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was also seeking to win over the powerful voting bloc.

An eye towards statewide election next year, the parade was her first, and an appropriate setting to reveal the destination of her first overseas trip as senator - to Puerto Rico in July.