"I run into people like that all the time," Rivera said after his run-in with the Obama hater who eventually pledged to vote for Rivera in the primary. "We can disagree and have a conversation about it, but you have to be open to everybody and, at the end of the day, we really care about the same things."

Those things, he said, include education, health care, tenant protections and jobs. They are all things Rivera says he will work toward if elected.

Since announcing his candidacy in May, Rivera has gone from an unknown entity in a crowded race of Espada challengers to becoming the most heavily-backed candidate in the race.

He's received endorsements from an army of state lawmakers, unions, and other Democratic-leaning institutions, including the Working Family Party and the New Roosevelt Initiative, a privately-funded political reform group that has promised to spend $250,000 to oust Espada.

"This is serious," Rivera said. "There's a reason why everyone is putting so much effort [into the campaign in getting Espada out of office]."

Up until recently, much of that support has come from outside the borough, which has led to accusations from Espada that he's an "outsider."

But last week, former borough president and mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer and Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera, whose 14th District lies entirely within the 33rd Senate District, both endorsed Rivera. He's also received endorsements from Bronx Council members Annabel Palma, Oliver Koppell and Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Espada's name is synonymous with controversy – he's being investigated by the Attorney General for allegedly defrauding the nonprofit health care centers he founded; he led a coup that put Albany at a standstill for more than a month last summer; and he's being sued by a Manhattan tailor for allegedly stealing $7,200 worth of suits.

But good or bad, at least people know who Espada is. More than a dozen area residents interviewed by the Norwood News had never heard of Rivera or his fellow challenger Daniel Padernacht.

A Kingsbridge resident for the past decade and a veteran of several political campaigns, Rivera said he would be facing the same name-recognition challenges as any first-time candidate.

"This Senate district is huge," he said.

His plan to get his name out there is simple: knock on doors and speak to as many Democratic voters in the district as possible.

But he knows it will take more than talk to win over residents who are used to being disappointed by their politicians. (Espada came into office by beating Efrain Gonzalez who is now serving a prison sentence for fraud.)

"You win your argument through action, not words," said Rivera. "The main thing I tell people is that I want to work for you and I want you to hold me accountable."

And if he wins the Sept. 14 primary, Rivera, the self-professed "mega nerd," said he might take a couple of hours to spend with his long-neglected Xbox.