11.   The issue pits the European Union against the Bush administration and centers on the American International Group, the New York insurance and financial services group.

12.   The issue pits the Midwest, eager to open new markets for its grain, against California.

13.   The issue pits younger lawmakers, who favor new blood, against more senior lawmakers, who say experience is the key to sound legislating.

14.   The issue has pitted leaders of high-growth states in the south against states in the north that historically have high federal Medicaid costs.

15.   The issue pits the new U.S. alarm about its vulnerability against long-standing Canadian determination to maintain its sovereignty.

16.   The issue pitted powerful interests against each other and produced a flood of television commercials and advertisements from both sides.

17.   The issue pits environmentalists against miners.

18.   The issue pits lawyers and some consumer groups against the securities, insurance, accounting and technologies industries.

19.   The issue also pitted American business and its Republican allies against big labor and its Democratic supporters.

20.   The issue has pitted important special-interest groups against each other.