ASKS LEADERS TO PICK CANDIDATE.(Main)

Byline: Frank Lynn New York Times

Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Thursday urged top New York Democrats to choose a presidential candidate to support, and, as he expected, most of them started lining up behind Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts.

The move, orchestrated through the Democratic state chairman, Laurence J. Kirwan, allowed the governor to bow to the preference of most of the state's Democratic leaders. At the same time, it permitted him to maintain public neutrality and thus not offend New York supporters of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, with whom Cuomo will have to deal long after 255 delegates are picked in the state's presidential primary April 19.

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