REAL-LIFE KRAMER WANTS THE NEW YORK MAYOR JOB.

Kenny Kramer, the real-life model for the Kramer character on the NBC sitcom ``Seinfeld,'' announced Tuesday that he is running for mayor of New York City.

``When I look at the field of Democratic candidates for mayor, I realize what a bleak primary race we are in for,'' the intrepid self-promoter declared. ``As a New Yorker, I am appalled. As a Democrat, I am embarrassed. As an entrepreneur and media slut, I'm inspired!''

Kramer claimed he has assembled a committee of election experts to help him organize the petitions and publicity. He needs the signatures of 15,000 registered Democrats to get on the ballot. ``These are people who want to shake up the Democratic party and to have a little bit of fun,'' he said.

One of his helpers, he said, is the head of a Democratic club in the city's outer boroughs who plans to vote for the Republican incumbent, Rudolph Giuliani.

Kramer counts himself a Giuliani-admirer. ``If he endorses me as Democratic candidate, I might endorse him in the general election,'' he said.

Neither Giuliani nor any of the Democratic candidates returned calls asking for comments on Kramer's bid. A publicist for NBC said only, ``Oh, jeez!'' and laughed.

In the 1980s, Kramer lived in a West Side apartment across the hall from Larry David, a stand-up comic who later collaborated with Jerry Seinfeld to create and write what would become the nation's top-rated TV comedy. David modeled Seinfeld's TV friendship with the eccentric Cosmo Kramer after his own real-life friendship with Kenny Kramer.

Left behind in his apartment while David and Seinfeld racked up millions of dollars, Kramer decided last year to cash in on his once-removed fame with a weekend bus tour of ``Seinfeld'' sites in Manhattan, which still does brisk business. He briefly played himself in the off-Broadway participatory play ``Tony and Tina's Wedding.'' Running for mayor can be seen as a natural next step.

In past years, radio personality Howard Stern and comic Jackie Mason have launched similar mayoral bids that failed to get off the ground.

This year's race has yet to generate much enthusiasm for any of the four Democratic candidates - Manhattan borough president Ruth Messinger, Bronx chief Fernado Ferrer, City Councilman Sal Albanese, and community activist Al Sharpton.

Polls have Giuliani leading them all. Even former Democratic Mayor Ed Koch, who openly dislikes him, has said he will vote for Giuliani over any of his own party's contenders. The primary takes place this September, the general election in November.

``It's a thrill to be participating in the political process,'' Kramer, who has held various odd jobs in his 53 years, said Tuesday. ``It's amazing what a ... life I've led just because I lived across the hall from Larry David. You know ... Oh, wait a minute, I gotta go. Channel 11's out on the street, waiting to interview me.''