41.   Private polling by both parties documents the potential vulnerability of Republican freshmen.

42.   --Rep. Mark Sanford, a Republican freshman from South Carolina, a millionaire real estate investor, sleeps on a futon and showers in the House gym.

43.   Republican freshmen were quick to exploit his decision to sign the bill.

44.   Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the president of the Republican freshmen, likes to say that Mrs. Myrick fits firmly in the conservative mainstream.

45.   Rep.Jon Christensen, a Republican freshman who represents Omaha and who voted for the House Republican budget last week, declined an interview request.

46.   Republican freshmen are threatening to tie their vote on a new debt ceiling to the outcome of budget negotiations.

47.   Rep. James Longley Jr., a Republican freshman from Maine, said House members needed the break from one another after an unusually busy year.

48.   Smith criticized her Republican freshman classmates, swept into power two years ago, for ignoring campaign finance reform.

49.   That was the lowest ranking among all Republican freshmen, which Fox said reflected his independence.

50.   The best guess is that the Republican freshmen, with their rough edges and their disdain for Washington, will resist assimilation at least for another three years.