Metro

Another Memphis guy with rock-star appeal!

HAROLD FORD JR. tiptoed into the House of Sharpton, unnoticed and unknown.

In less than an hour, the Memphis transplant who wants to be senator performed shtick that made him sound like a cross between a Baptist preacher and a Borscht Belt comic.

He tried — and failed — to torpedo his Southern accent. And he royally ticked off the smitten media, as well as his maybe political rival, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

That’s right. Harold Ford Jr. walked into the event a nobody. And he emerged a punk-rock star.

Few in the crowd knew the identity of the cute, quiet guy as he sat onstage at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network.

Gillibrand tried to ignore him. Sailing in, she double-kissed the cheeks of every male in range. Done, she extended her arm, reaching over another man, and took Ford’s hand. No kiss.

Within minutes, though, it was as if she didn’t exist.

Ford stood up, this son of privilege, now a bank vice chairman and a guy who eschews the subway — and talked like he was born in Harlem. Except, that is, for the words “on,” which he pronounced with two syllables, and “helpful,” from which he omitted the “l.” No matter.

He waxed fondly about his grandma, who disciplined him with an electrical cord. He grew up thinking church attendance was mandatory.

“I didn’t know you had a choice,” he said to guffaws.

Then, he slipped in the knife. Swiftly and deftly.

He mentioned “politicians” — “and I hope to be one again.” Take that, Kirsten.

In contrast, Gillibrand read from a sheet of paper, hitting all the right notes — Haiti and equal rights, blah, blah. She sounded like a schoolteacher.

Then, Sharpton and Ford sneaked out the back door, leaving the lair of Sharpton Sharpton-less, and Gillibrand sitting onstage like chopped liver.

He’s learning fast.

andrea.peyser@nypost.com