11.   As matters now stand, the rematch is extremely close.

12.   As matters stand now, the Whitewater case does not seem to involve the degree of constitutional abuse or widespread corruption plumbed by some other congressional hearings.

13.   As matters now stand, the owners sometime this autumn will unilaterally impose the salary cap.

14.   As matters now stand, some lawyers could make tens of millions of dollars from tobacco suits that have been settled.

15.   As matters stand now, Clinton would lose such a vote by a wide margin.

16.   As matters stand, some people think we are already too chummy with the feds.

17.   As matters stand, the only legislation drafted to extend those conversion provisions has been tucked into the Democratic version of the rent-regulation legislation.

18.   But a spokeswoman for Armey said she did not know where the matter stood.

19.   But as matters now stand, there is no clear global policy toward arms exports and the transfer of military technology.

20.   Finance Minister Theo Waigel conceded that as matters stand, Germany cannot qualify to become a part of the single currency.