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The announcement came following a closed-door conference.

After 43 years in the minority, Democrats were poised to lead the senate after victories in November.

Democrats Ruben Diaz, Pedro Espada, and Carl Kruger had threatened to break with the new majority and side with Republicans, abstain from the vote or throw their support behind someone else.

All three members made surprise appearances at Tuesday's meeting to declare their support. Smith said he was not certain of the meeting’s outcome until the last minute.

"We now have three individuals who are in the same party that understand that it's better to discuss, negotiate, and move forward than to get into gridlock politics," he said.

Smith needed 32 affirmative votes to become leader. He said building a new Democratic majority will require patience.

"And I ask the people of the State of New York, give us some time. It took us 40 years to get here, and we wanna make sure we get this right. We don't wanna take three or four times to not get it right, so we want to be patient, we want to be deliberate," said Smith.

Diaz, Espada and Kruger received perquisites worth tens of thousands of dollars.

"My constituents should know that I'm satisfied with whatever happens," said Diaz, who said he also was pressured by his son, Bronx Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. "My son is my son, my blood. I mean, he twisted my arm, he come in, he slapped my face a few times."

The socially conservative father had wanted a guarantee a bill to legalize same-sex marriage would not hit the Senate floor.

Smith said it was not part of the deal.

"There was no quid pro quo," he said.

Yet Smith says expected changes include more power sharing with Republicans and sending more educational aid to New York City’s poorer districts, possibly at the expense of traditionally Republican areas.

"Whatever happens, happens,” said Brooklyn Republican Senator Marty Golden. “If it's the Republicans, we'll work with the Democrats and the governor to put this state back in a a positive way."

Senators will officially vote for their leader when the 2009 session opens on Wednesday.