1.   Although the exit polls predicted a very close race, they could not measure early or absentee ballots.

2.   Federal retirees would make a difference in close races in many sunbelt state congressional districts as well as Maryland and Virginia.

3.   Most people were predicting a close race.

4.   This is going to be a close race, a hard-fought race.

5.   Although early ballots leave close races in the air, elections officials endorse them because they get more people to vote.

6.   Although presidents such as Thomas Jefferson have achieved greatness after close races, George W. Bush or Al Gore could face a far bleaker outlook, the experts predict.

7.   And in an upset, the Republican comptroller, Frederick Parola, lost a close race to his Democratic challenger, Howard Weitzman.

8.   And still this is going to be a close race.

9.   And in these final days of the session, every vote cast and every horse traded carries exceptional weight in what appears to be a close political race.