Inside Washington

New York City has about as much chance of winning the 1996 Republican Convention as the Mets have of winning the World Series. National party leaders are going through the motions of considering Manhattan to avoid embarrassing the Big Apple's G.O.P. mayor, RUDOLPH GIULIANI. But sources say the choice will come down to San Diego or New Orleans. The G.O.P. is looking to court votes in California, so insiders are betting San Diego will get the nod for the convention when the decision is made in January.