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TALESE’S ‘NOVEL’ PITCH FOR POOR

Legendary author Gay Talese has begun his own campaign to help the poor benefit from President Obama’s stimulus plan.

He’s handing out signs to the homeless and needy that, referring to the stimulus, urge East Siders to share their wealth.

The signs, taped to cardboard shirt boards (from Talese’s laundered shirts) read, “Please support Pres. Obama’s Stimulus Plan. Begin right here . . .”

So far, Talese has given out a dozen signs.

“The people at the bottom of the Social Register, they’re constantly in a recession,” said Talese, 77. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s Wall Street or Main Street, they’re on the bottom of the street. This is a little gimmick that may help them earn a few more dollars.”

Talese, the au thor of “The Kingdom and the Power,” “Honor Thy Father” and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife,” said he got the idea when he saw a man with a fold-up table and a bottle for donations at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street.

“I told him, ‘You might make more money if you were more topical,’ ” he recalled. “The word is stimulus. If you were more up to date, you might get the attention of more pedestrians.”

At that, the writer drafted his text on one of the cardboard pieces he keeps in his pocket for notes, instead of a notebook.

After handing out his first sign, Talese went home and typed up and printed out larger versions that he taped to more shirt boards, and distributed.

One recipient, Byron Seabreeze (with Talese at left), who has been panhandling for several years at 60th and Madison, said he’s grateful – but not sure the sign has brought in more money.

“People got a good laugh out of it,” said Seabreeze, 35, adding, “I appreciate everything. Any kind of publicity helps.”

andy.geller@nypost.com