31.   Kim is barred by law from running again, but the ruling party candidate, Lee Hoi Chang, is already lagging far behind in the polls.

32.   Last month, the candidates publicly debated and, the newspaper reported, voters gradually came to see the party candidate, Tan Xiaoqiu, as the strongest.

33.   Last year, opposition party candidates from the PRD and PAN won a record number of seats in both chambers of Congress.

34.   Meanwhile, the potential role of minor party candidates in the race appears to be diminishing.

35.   Minor party candidates have fared much better in the state and local races, even winning some low-level elections in large places and high-level elections in small places.

36.   Nikolai Gubenka, a popular actor and theater director, is a top party candidate.

37.   Now, party candidates may find themselves tied to a president whose credibility is under fire by members of both parties.

38.   Opposition party candidates have accused the authorities of delaying results to give officials time to stuff ballot boxes, and some have called for a new election.

39.   On that controversial butterfly ballot, on the list of presidential candidates is Workers World party candidate Monica Moorehead.

40.   Parties are responding by recruiting actors, television personalities, athletes, and other celebrities to be party candidates.