DEMS GAIN IN GOV RACES EAST AND WEST

Democrats gained on their Republican rivals ingubernatorial racesin pivotal New York and California. Two new polls showed that New York's incumbent Governor, Mario Cuomo has nearly obliterated the lead of GOP rival George Pataki, in a race that includes a second vehemently anti-Cuomo candidate, B. Thomas Golisano. A Marist College poll had Pataki at 37 percent, Cuomo at 36 percent and independent B. Thomas Golisano at 8 percent, with 17 percent undecided. A New York Post-Fox 5 television poll had Pataki at 40 percent, Cuomo at 36 percent, Golisano at 6 percent and 16 percent undecided. In both polls, Pataki's lead is within the margin of error. TIME reporter John Dickerson says Pataki hasn't clearly laid out an agenda and the tide is moving toward the incumbent.