11.   Other Republicans expressed concern that there could have been serious negative consequences for the party if the referendum failed.

12.   The referendum may fail because of fears that mandatory retirement savings would cancel out tax cuts promised by the conservative coalition elected last year.

13.   Conservative opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi had urged his supporters to stay home and said the center-left government should quit if the referendum failed.

14.   If the non-binding referendum fails, her opponent, Center Party leader Anne Enger Lahnstein, will be in the same position.

15.   The owners of the Mariners have threatened to sell or move the team if the referendum fails.

16.   The referendum failed.

17.   Wooldridge has said he wants to keep his team in Charlotte but that it needs a backup plan if the referendum fails.