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So far, most of the candidates have said that they want Mr. Giuliani to have some role in the rebuilding of New York, but of those remaining, none has embraced a postponement of the next mayoralty.

Any challenge to term limit laws would certainly prompt Mr. Ferrer and Mr. Green to press their own legal case. Michael R. Bloomberg, the Republican candidate to whom the mayor had given a lukewarm blessing this summer, yesterday said, ''As all of you know, I am not a professional politician, I don't deal in leaks and I don't violate confidences.''

Mr. Green was far more emphatic about his position, even before the announcement. ''One of three men will be the next mayor of New York City, and it's either Michael Bloomberg, Freddy Ferrer or me,'' Mr. Green said. ''Because we're a nation of laws, we all have to obey the laws, and we don't change the law on the eve of an election. It didn't happen in the Civil War or World War II and it's not going to happen now.''

Mr. Ferrer's spokesman, John DelCecato, emphasized that New Yorkers had twice backed term limits in the 1990's. ''They supported term limits in a referendum, then opposed the ending of them and the simple fact is that there is going to be a new mayor on Jan. 1 and we're confident that it will be Fernando Ferrer.''

But Giuliani administration officials have been busy trying to muster support to keep Mr. Giuliani in power beyond Jan. 1. Deputy Mayor Joseph J. Lhota's office called City Council members, and another aide reached out to Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, to encourage them to lobby Mr. Silver.

The mayor's office has also had contact with other business leaders, including Mitchell Modell, the sporting-goods store owner and Giuliani campaign donor. Mr. Modell confirmed that he had been advancing Mr. Giuliani's cause, but added that he would wait and see before taking further action.

''It usually takes six months for a mayor to get his arms around a city,'' said Mr. Modell in an interview. ''So if we could keep him on that would be better. The people should be able to decide who they want, and we are trying to get the feeling out there and see if we can get this thing overturned.''

Photo: Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani remains at the center of attention in New York politics with slightly more than three months left in his term. (Ruby Washington/The New York Times)(pg. D4) Chart: ''VOTERS' SURVEY: Views of New York City'' Do you approve or disapprove of the overall job that Rudolph Giuliani has done as mayor? Democratic Primary Voters APPROVE: 67% DISAPPROVE: 33 Republican Primary Voters APPROVE: 92% DISAPPROVE: 8 If Giuliani were able to run in November, would you vote for him or for the candidate you voted for today as mayor? Democratic Primary Voters GIULIANI: 39 OTHER: 61 Republican Primary Voters GIULIANI: 78 OTHER: 22 At the site of the World Trade Center, which do you prefer? Democratic Primary Voters REBUILDING THE TWIN TOWERS: 33 BUILDING SMALLER OFFICE BUILDINGS: 39 CREATING A MEMORIAL PARK: 28 Republican Primary Voters REBUILDING THE TWIN TOWERS: 33 BUILDING SMALLER OFFICE BUILDINGS: 44 CREATING A MEMORIAL PARK: 22 Based on questionnaires filled out by 1,458 Democrat and 269 Republican voters exiting polling places in 40 randomly selected districts in Tuesday's primary. (Source: Edison Media Research)(pg. D4)