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Will being censured by the House of Representatives last December cost Rep. Charles Rangel (D) of New York his seat?

The 21-term congressman will find out Tuesday after voters go to the polls in northern Manhattan, Harlem, and a small part of the Bronx to select who will be on the Democratic ticket in November 鈥� practically a guarantee of election in New York's 13th Congressional District.

In the past, this wouldn鈥檛 even be an issue. Mr. Rangel, a decorated Korean War veteran who helped funnel vast federal dollars toward the revitalization of his district, usually had no trouble fending off challengers. He was always well versed on the issues, and he had a gravelly voice that resonated with voters. Many 50-year-olds still remember when he handed out candy to them.

But times have changed.

The boundaries of Rangel鈥檚 district have been changed 鈥� giving it a much larger proportion of Hispanic voters. Rangel himself, once a vigorous campaigner, has slowed down. And Rangel no longer has the clout he used to have when he ran the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, which sets tax policy and writes bills affecting Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs.

Nevertheless, he remains a force.

Last Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of New York gave Rangel his endorsement, on the basis of the many years he has represented the district.

鈥淭he endorsement suggests he still has some clout,鈥� says Lee Miringoff, director of polling at the Marist Institute of Public Opinion in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 鈥淐uomo provides some important credentialization.鈥�

Rangel also showed he still has the political skill to minimize setbacks when he commented to the television cameras last Friday about The New York Times endorsement of Clyde Williams, a former aid to President Bill Clinton: 鈥淛ust tell me how the editorial board of The New York Times could say that Clyde Williams would make a better representative of my district, my city, my country,鈥� he intoned, emphasizing the word 鈥渕y鈥� each time.

Nevertheless, Rangel will need all the help he can get. In December 2010, he was censured for 11 congressional ethics violations, including failing to pay taxes on a property he owned and improperly soliciting millions of dollars of corporate donations for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York.

The New York legislature has also redistricted Rangel鈥檚 turf, resulting in many more Hispanic voters than African-Americans. As a result, Rangel鈥檚 main opponent is Adriano Espaillat, a Dominican-American.

鈥淭he question is can he turn out the voters?鈥� says Douglas Muzzio, a political commentator and professor at Baruch College in Manhattan. 鈥淧resumably, a Latino votes for a Latino.鈥�

Mr. Muzzio says that if Rangel is going to lose, 鈥渢his is the perfect storm.鈥� But, he adds, 鈥渉e is still well-respected, he is still admired by his constituents.鈥�

Rangel insists that he鈥檚 not worried, perhaps because his campaign seems to have the strongest presence around much of Harlem 鈥� putting up 鈥渞e-elect Rangel,鈥� and the Spanish version, 鈥渞e-eliga Rangel,鈥� posters and directing passers-by to polling stations.

Storefronts and streets, especially on the ground outside subway stations, are covered with campaign signs, mostly for Rangel in an effort to remind residents to get out and vote 鈥� though many voters said Tuesday they were unaware of the primary, which is ordinarily held in September.

Still, many residents said they were comfortable with Rangel and his long tenure in Congress. They aren鈥檛 worried about any past ethical issues.

鈥淗e鈥檚 done some things, but everyone has done some things. He鈥檚 human,鈥� says Crystal Spivey-Briggs, who called out 鈥渢hat鈥檚 my man!鈥� to a volunteer passing out Rangel fliers. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a good talker, he gives to the community, and he鈥檚 done more good than bad,鈥� she says.

Less enthusiastic, but still leaning toward Rangel, was Ron Islar, a community activist who works with young men in programs at Salem United Methodist Church.

鈥淲ith Charlie, you know what you鈥檙e going to get,鈥� says Mr. Islar. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been there a long time, and he鈥檚 a politician like the rest of them. But he鈥檚 got a good heart and he knows the ins and outs.鈥�

Still, at least a few of Rangel鈥檚 opponents had their supporters out on the streets.

After he had put up a poster, Rashed Musla explained why he supported Mr. Williams, saying: 鈥淗e鈥檚 a good guy, he鈥檚 a fighter.鈥�

The poster shows Williams throwing a playful punch at another man with the words, 鈥淧unch the ballot.鈥�

Proponents and posters for Adriano Espaillat were sparse in parts of Harlem, but were much more visible closer to mostly Dominican Washington Heights.

鈥淩angel has been there so long,鈥� says Elsa Hernandez. 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to give someone else a chance, someone who will help the poor. I like Adriano Espaillat 鈥� even if he hasn鈥檛 done anything for me yet.鈥澛�

Espaillat has support from afar, too. Leonel Fernandez, the Dominican Republic鈥檚 president, voiced his support for Espaillat and called upon Dominican New Yorkers to support him.

鈥淎driano Espaillat has demonstrated leadership, commitment, and dedication throughout his career 鈥� all in the interest of the diaspora in New York,鈥� he said in a statement.

But Espaillat will have to overcome Rangel鈥檚 long-term supporters first.

鈥淩angel, that鈥檚 my man,鈥� says William Allende. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the only one for me, he knows what he鈥檚 doing, and he looks after the community. I remember when he used to come around here and give us candy when I was a kid.鈥澛�

That is possibly the kind of support that will get Rangel the nod once more, says Muzzio. 鈥淗e has been there close to forever, and he鈥檚 brought stuff home for the district."