71.   He said that the Spanish government always backs Spanish candidates seeking international positions.

72.   Mapp, who remains lieutenant governor, is reportedly still deciding whether to back a candidate in the runoff.

73.   McCain advantage over Bush among GOP voters bodes well for their next confrontation in South Carolina, a state that tends to back establishment candidates like Bush.

74.   Mrs. Aquino attempted to head off an Estrada victory by convincing Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to run, while Ramos backed another candidate, House Speaker Jose de Venecia.

75.   No party leaders have officially backed either candidate.

76.   Sharansky told reporters in a press conference Thursday that his decision not to back a candidate was firm.

77.   Since then both candidates have been focusing on winning the approval of groups and parties that backed other candidates in the first voting.

78.   Syria, which in many cases has the ultimate say in Lebanese politics, has not publicly backed a candidate.

79.   The AUC has been backing some candidates and threatening voters against supporting their rivals.

80.   The government has urged voters not to back candidates suspected of having links with criminals.