NEW YORK — It was his 82nd birthday, and Rep. Charles B. Rangel faced a large cake flickering with candles and a roomful of people urging him to blow them out. Rangel drew a deep breath, leaned in close and slowly extinguished every flame, displaying the determination that has seen him through age, injuries and ethics scandals and that supporters hope will carry him through his next battle: against state Sen. Adriano Espaillat, who is as bent on ending Rangel's 42-year congressional career as Rangel is on extending it. Rangel's backers speak of the past, saying their man, a founder...