A senior adviser to the Mayor said the hotly contested comptroller race was hindering Mr. Dinkins's campaign by distracting voters from the mayoral race.

They will be a major part of the coalition I intend to put together in the comptroller race.

All the candidates in the heated mayoral and comptroller races agreed to participate, with the exception of Republican Ronald Lauder, who eventually spent $13 million of his own money.

Mayoral politics are sure to enter the comptroller race as well.

Mr. Parola was endorsed by Newsday in his first two comptroller races, but not this time.

Mr. McCall has accused Mr. London of using the comptroller race as a stepping stone, but he insists it is the job he wants.

Still, a Republican close to Mr. D'Amato and Mr. Pataki insists that the party has not settled on a strategy for the comptroller race.

She acknowledged some nonfinancial political factors in the multicandidate mayoral and comptroller races.

"The only difference," he said, "is that it's hard to find a mayoral candidate I want to support; in the comptroller race, they're all pretty good."

Herman Badillo, Mr. Giuliani's running mate who was defeated in the comptroller race, spent yesterday in his office making phone calls to thank supporters and campaign workers.