Cuomo’s Draft Talk Gives Chill to Kirk

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo said at a press conference Tuesday that Democratic National Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. asked him not to rule out a draft for the 1988 presidential nomination.

Kirk, however, denied discussing a possible draft with the governor and expressed irritation in a statement issued in Washington at Cuomo’s disclosure. The party chief said he told Cuomo there was no need for him to make a statement flatly ruling out his availability for the nomination.

Last week, NBC Nightly News broadcast an interview with the governor during which Cuomo said he would accept a draft if, by some “accident,” the party made it clear that that was his “obligation.”