For Governor

The power of incumbency certainly is at work in the valiant race of Peter Vallone, who emerged victorious from a bitter Democratic primary, against Gov. George E. Pataki. There are some similarities between the Governor's race and the race of Congress. Both Mr. Pataki and Mr. Forbes originally were backed by Senator D'Amato, both have campaign war chests more than 10 times greater than their opponents, and both have proven more likable in office than their opponents would have guessed. In Governor Pata ki's case, however, we are unhappy with his veto in April of a $500 million increase for school building and a threefold increase in spending on child care.

Voting for Governor is expected to be very light, even in New York City, where Mr. Vallone has served as Speaker of the City Council and which is traditionally Democratic. Nor are B. Thomas Golisano, the Independence Party candidate, or Lieut. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross, a longtime Republican running as the Liberal Party candidate after having lost the Democratic primary, expected to have much pull.