Antonio playing hard to get

Mayor Villaraigosa is expected by many to eventually endorse Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president, but for now he is saying nice things about several of the Democrats and being coy when they come courting. "I want to know what kind of person they are," Villaraigosa told Tina Daunt for her Cause Celebre spot in the Times' Calendar section. "I want to get a sense of their values, their vision, their character and convictions." He had dinner with Clinton in Washington in January, then she came to Los Angeles to make nice recently. Villaraigosa seems to be enjoying the dance, but there are warnings in the air as well. "What if he picks wrong?" said political strategist Andy Spahn, a consultant to Steven Spielberg and a host of other celebs. "What's that going to do for his future gubernatorial race or Senate race or mayoral race?"