21.   But soft-money spending does not count against that limit, because the money is being spent by the parties, not the candidates.

22.   But what will count against Quayle, inevitably, is his startling verbal track record.

23.   Clinton is also insisting that he will not take the stand while in office, something that may count against him.

24.   Democrats said the new tax cuts should be counted against the license fee increase.

25.   Emergency spending is not counted against the budget caps.

26.   Finally, behind the pending criminal counts against Gravano there looms an old plea agreement from the Gotti case.

27.   Freshmen student-athletes who start at one school but leave or transfer are counted against that school, no matter what they eventually do academically.

28.   Harper will sign a deal that falls under the minimum-salary exception, which does not count against the salary cap.

29.   He had struggled with his command all night, letting the Mariners work three-ball counts against him eight times in five innings.

30.   He retains Cape Verdean citizenship, which qualifies him to play in Portugal without counting against foreign player limits.