Metro

New York’s political bigs pay tribute to Bill Lynch

Bill and Hillary Clinton leave the funeral for former Deputy Mayor Bill Lynch.

Bill and Hillary Clinton leave the funeral for former Deputy Mayor Bill Lynch. (James Messerschmidt)

Bill Lynch must be smiling.

Politics was front and center at today’s funeral service today for Lynch, the veteran consultant and coalition-builder who helped elect David Dinkins as the city’s first black mayor and Hillary Clinton as New York’s senator.

Al Sharpton lightened the mood before paying tribute to Lynch at Riverside Church.

“To President Clinton and her husband,” Sharpton said, drawing applause and chuckles from the more than 1,000 political heavyweights, union officials and activists who packed the church to pay respects to the “rumpled genius.”

“Just practicing. Just in case,” Sharpton told the Clintons, who were among the dignitaries in attendance.

Hillary Clinton fondly spoke of Lynch’s distinct “gravelly voice” and how she always felt “a little bit better” after chatting with him.

“We lost a friend and New York has lost a champion,” she said.

Bill Clinton said, “His life was a gift and I am grateful.”

A choked up Dinkins called his former campaign chairman and deputy mayor a “sweet prince.”

“He succeeded in doing well while doing good,” Dinkins said. “Losing him breaks my heart.”

Lynch, 72, died of kidney disease last week. Friends noted how hard he worked in recent years even while undergoing grueling dialysis treatment.

The send-off for the Long Island native and Air Force veteran included a rousing rendition of Amazing Grace performed by Wynton Marsalis.

Mayoral candidates and a who’s who of labor and civil right leaders were in attendance..

Anthony Weiner showed up late, without wife Huma Abedin. He sat near the back and didn’t get close enough to greet the Clintons.

Bill de Blasio and John Liu — who have worked with Lynch — were also there. GOP candidate Joe Lhota paid his respects.

And comptroller candidate Eliot Spitzer did some glad-handing.

Patrick Gaspard, a political adviser to Obama who was recently nominated to become ambassador to South Africa, said he was proud to be a Lynch protege.