"I'm going to do something unconventional for a politician -- when I make a mistake, I'm going to say I made a mistake, not go into some long, labored exercise," Mr. Clinton said today as he campaigned here, speaking of his efforts to "unite the nation across racial and economic lines" and accusing President Bush and the Republican Party of dividing the country racially. Call to Wilder

Mr. Clinton telephoned Mr. Wilder today, apparently to express the same kind of regrets he expressed publicly here, and he also met with members of minority groups in Hartford and New Haven as he campaigned for Tuesday's Democratic primary.

By offering a swift mea culpa, the Democratic front-runner was clearly hoping to minimize the incident as quickly as possible as he tries to focus on strengthening his sudden position as the seemingly unassailable leader in what is now a two-man race for the Democratic Presidential nomination.

But Mr. Clinton's own explanation made it clear that he was aware that the country club, where he is an honorary member as Governor, has no nonwhite members. "A guy asked me to play nine holes of golf," Mr. Clinton said. "It was the only place we had time to play. I should not have done it."

Mr. Bowen said Mr. Clinton played this week with Mark Grobmeyer, a Little Rock lawyer and longtime associate. Action Contradicts Campaign