PIVOTAL PRIMARY NEW YORK'S 'OSCAR' FOR DUKAKIS.(Main)(Editorial)

Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis went into New York's Democratic primary with late polls showing him likely to attract 45 percent of the potential vote. He emerged with 51 percent - a suprisingly strong victory that puts him far ahead of his closest competitors.

Does that amount to an Oscar, as he claimed Tuesday night with his Academy Award-winning cousin, actress Olympia Dukakis, at his side? No. A closer look at the results shows the governor to have stolen the spotlight for now. How well he will hold up under the glare is far from certain.

There were three candidates going into the primary, and in all likelihood only two will be left to carry on into …