21.   It may seem premature since the Democratic and Republican nominating conventions are more than three years in the future.

22.   It will hold its nominating convention several blocks away in Dallas while the GOP, which holds every statewide elective office, hears from state and national officials.

23.   Lamm said that with less than a week to go before the nominating convention, neither he nor his daughter had received ballots.

24.   Lieberman has twice skipped his own state Democratic nominating convention to observe the sabbath.

25.   Meanwhile, the campaign for president in the U.S. will pick up speed as both Republicans and Democrats hold their nominating conventions in August.

26.   National party rules bar selecting delegates to nominating conventions in that way, so voters will be asked to approve the exemption in another ballot measure this fall.

27.   New York could salvage the elective system by eliminating judicial nominating conventions and perhaps also by holding elections in smaller districts where minorities could elect more of their choices.

28.   Party spokeswoman Sharon Holman predicted that several potential candidates will surface as the nominating conventions near.

29.   Political party leaders dominate the process and manipulate nominating conventions, often to the detriment of minorities.

30.   Selecting a running mate well before a party nominating convention is not unheard of.