LIBERTARIANS NOMINATE SHOCK JOCK MR. STERN GOES TO ALBANY.(MAIN)

Byline: TOM PRECIOUS Capitol bureau

ALBANY Accompanied by strippers who remained mostly clothed and officially nominated by a man holding a sex device, Howard Stern was tapped by the Libertarian Party on Saturday to be its gubernatorial candidate.

Want that repeated?

Stern, a modern-day Lenny Bruce to some, a childish pig to his detractors, wants to lead New York state. Hey, if Oliver North can run for office, his fans say, why not Stern? ``I'm the new Nixon for the '90s,'' declared the brash and proudly politically incorrect radio show host.

``Republicans are not going to take this away from Mario Cuomo,'' he insisted. ``I am the only legitimate contender for the throne.''

Stern's fans, a hodgepodge assortment who were rather easy to sort out from the more solemn party regulars, packed the hall at the Italian American Community Center to push their candidate through. Stern had urged his listeners to join the party and make the trip to Albany to guarantee his nomination. And they did in force, shouting down, blocking out and taunting anyone who sought to stop him. No one came close.

``Howard …