ASHINGTON - House Democratic leader Richard Gephardt, saying he was ''otherwise occupied'' with the battle for control of the House, said yesterday that he does not want the vice presidential slot on Al Gore's ticket.
''I've been as clear as I can be,'' the Missouri Democrat said, although he stopped short of an unequivocal declaration that he would refuse a request to run.
The Democratic National Convention opens Aug. 14. At a news conference Monday, Gephardt cautioned ''about reports that say this person or that person is at the top of the list. A lot of this gets stirred up.''
Prominently mentioned as potential Gore picks were Gephardt, Senators John Kerry of Massachusetts, Bob Graham of Florida, and George Mitchell of Maine, the former Senate majority leader.
Graham was thrust into the spotlight recently by Gore, who asked the Florida senator to substitute for him at a Democratic dinner over the weekend in Tennessee. There, Graham sought to deflect the issue through humor.
''Some of you may have heard that I've been thinking about a new career,'' he said Saturday night. ''It's true. I am looking for a new job - as a country-western singer.''
Gephardt's name also surfaced last week, to the point that he sought a private meeting with the vice president to urge him to look elsewhere. The Missouri Democrat offered the same advice in public at a news conference at the Capitol where he was asked about joining the ticket.
''I've said I don't want to do that, and I hope and believe they'll find someone to do that other than me,'' he said.
Gephardt added: ''I've been very focused on one thing and that's winning back a majority in the House . ... So I'm preoccupied.''
Pressed on whether he would flatly refuse a Gore offer, Gephardt replied, ''I've been as clear as I can be.''
