11.   This works to favor incumbent parties, which predictably won local races in state after state.

12.   What emerges from conversations with voters and candidates in both cities is a sense that the debate could favor either party in the fall.

13.   When asked which party they favored for their local House race, respondents picked Democrats over Republicans by only four percentage points, a statistically insignificant margin.

14.   Political observers said the government apparently feared the committees would fault the rural development schemes, which could favor opposition parties in the November general elections.

15.   A high percentage of voter participation favors smaller parties who have to clear a four percent hurdle to win seats in parliament.

16.   Ahead of presidential elections in March, he has cracked down on the opposition and pushed through legislation tightening security and electoral laws that favor his party.

17.   Five small opposition parties boycotted the election, saying Mugabe changed electoral laws to favor his party.

18.   Five small opposition parties boycotted the poll, claiming Mugabe pushed through electoral laws favoring his party.

19.   He also proposed other changes slightly favoring smaller parties.

20.   He controls the media, and this summer, his legislators redrew electoral districts to favor their party.