HARRISBURG - The 1998 Pennsylvania race for governor is shaping up as a three way contest, and apparently will not involve an insurgent effort to steal the Democratic nomination.

Despite fears among some Democrats that a weak field invites a "name" outsider into the May 19 primary, the only realistic name so far mentioned says she won't challenge for the Democratic nod.

"I am not a Democrat," said Marguerite "Peg" Luksik.

The issue lurks in the state's political shadows because the race right now looks like no race at all.

With Gov. Ridge seen cruising to re-election on a strong economy and the absence of a big-name and well-funded opponent, some insiders see an atmosphere prime for political trickery.

But Luksik says she's not a trickster.

She does confirm that people talked to her about running as a Democrat this year because her name and experience could lead to an upset primary win. But she's not interested.

"I think that would be a lie," Luksik said, "and not fair to the Democrats."

Luksik, 42, of Johnstown, a "family values" anti-abortion conservative, ran as an independent in 1994, winning 13 percent of the vote for governor, more than any minor-party candidate in modern state history.

And she appears headed toward another gubernatorial bid, this time with the Constitutional Party, which she heads. She said she's "80 percent" certain she'll run. She said she expected to decide for sure by March. Last week, she started putting out position papers.

Conventional wisdom suggests conservative third-party candidates in Pennsylvania take votes away from Republicans.

But political experts say Luksik won't much hurt Ridge nor help the presumed Democratic nominee, Pittsburgh state Rep. Ivan Itkin.

"Luksik ran a credible campaign and would do so again," says Philadelphia-based Democratic consultant Neil Oxman.

"But Ridge is much more known today than in `94 ... he doesn't scare Democrats. The most successful thing to be in Pennsylvania is a moderate Republican and that's what he is," Oxman said.

Pittsburgh-based Republican consultant John Brabender suggests Ridge is less vulnerable to an attack from the "right" than in 1994.

"Tom Ridge is not a strong pro-choice candidate," said Brabender, "and angers no more than the fringe."

Brabender adds. "Peg Luksik at some point, I think, wears out her welcome, like Ross Perot did ... she won't be taken seriously and will have trouble getting her message out."

Meanwhile, Montgomery County lawyer Phil Berg, the announced Democratic candidate who lost primaries for governor in 1990 and lieutenant governor in 1994, says he will not seek a third-party candidacy and is running only for the Democratic nod.

"I've been getting a good response," Berg said.

Then, taking a shot at Itkin, he added, "I think that by far I have it over the other candidate. He's boring."

The acting state party chief, state Sen. Tina Tartaglione, D-Philadelphia, said she's not worried an outsider might steal the party nomination. She says she knows of no other candidates besides Itkin and Berg.

Tartaglione hopes the party will make an endorsement March 7, at the next scheduled committee meeting.

Former state auditor general Don Bailey, now a Harrisburg lawyer, is reportedly considering a bid. He did not return calls.

When pressed for thoughts on party vulnerability to an outsider or a minor-party push in the fall, Tartaglione said only, "I am trying to rebuild this party brick by brick, and I want an endorsement to mean something. It's going to take a lot of work."

Meanwhile, the paperwork is about to begin.

Under state law, Republican and Democratic candidates can circulate nominating petitions for governor starting Feb 17. Candidates need $200 to file and must collect 2,000 signatures, at least 100 each from 10 counties. The deadline is March 10.

Minor-party candidates have from March 11 to Aug 3 to file. They also need $200, but must get, under a recent change in state law, 24,390 signatures, a number based on 2 percent of the vote cast in the last statewide election.

In Pennsylania, according to the most recent registration figures, Democrats number 3.4 million; Republicans, 2.9 million. Democrats hold a 443,711 lead.

The Libertarian Party is third with 18,738 registrants; the Constitutional Party has 5,037; the Reform Party, under which Perot ran here in 1996, shows Just 2,480.

There are "other" parties in the state. They are lumped together, with 590.882 total registrants. They are not listed on ballots because none got 2 percent of the total vote in the last election, including 2 percent in each of 10 counties, state officials say.