Trying to avoid being tagged as a single-issue, third-party candidate, Peg Luksik Sunday predicted the gubernatorial race will be a contest between herself and Gov. Tom Ridge.

The comment by Luksik, the Constitutional Party candidate, came during a campaign picnic attended by about 40 people at the Exeter Township home of her Berks County campaign coordinator, Vincent M. J. Sumoski.

"I'm not the third-party candidate; Ivan is," she said, referring to Democratic candidate Ivan Itkin.

Prior to her speech, Luksik pointed to the fact her campaign has raised more money and made a bigger commitment to statewide television ads than Itkin's camp.

"This is a race between Tom and I," she said.

Luksik told the crowd her prolife stance on abortion is just one facet of a political philosophy anchored by a strong belief in God and a belief the government policies should reflect a respect for people's dignity.

"The whole point of this country is that there is something above the state," she said.

Luksik also criticized Ridge's support for family planning and accused him of being distracted by issues less important than abortion.

"The current governor is more concerned about who is selling the booze than he is with babies," Luksik said, referring to the debate about selling state liquor stores.

Still, Luksik contends her campaign is already affecting other areas of public policy such as the state inheritance tax.

Abolishing the tax has been a topic of discussion in Harrisburg, and Luksik said officials have reluctantly credited her campaign for getting the issue to the table.

Revenue from the tax is about 3.3% of the state budget, she said.

The state could just about make up the lost revenue by holding the line on spending, which rose by 2.3% this year, Luksik added.

A 43-year-old mother of six from Johnstown, Cambria County, Luksik is making her third run for governor. She captured 13% - nearly a half million votes - of the electorate in 1994, which was the best third-party candidate showing in Pennsylvania since 1910, according to published reports.

In the 1990 Republican primary, Luksik received 46% of the vote against endorsed candidate Barbara Hafer.

Several of the people attending Sunday's event said they were registered Republicans and Democrats, but were crossing party lines because Luksik is the only pro-life candidate.