1.   Although Bush retains a lead among Republicans in national polls, soft spots for the Texan are appearing in the short-term primary calendar.

2.   But any thought of subjecting the Republican field to the traditional full week of media hazing has been short-circuited by the concentrated primary calendar.

3.   He has offended New Hampshire, playing footsy with Arizona and Delaware, each of which hoped to sneak near the front of the primary calendar.

4.   Just how does this discussion of filthy lucre affect the primary calendar?

5.   McCain faces a somewhat different challenge, in part because the Republican primary calendar is different from the Democratic schedule.

6.   Party leaders are expected to meet in late February or early March to design a revised primary calendar.

7.   Some experts suggest that the GOP primary calendar could backfire and produce the first brokered convention in nearly half a century.

8.   Supporters of McCain in the state Legislature sought unsuccessfully to delay the date of the primary so it would not be as crucial in the primary calendar.

9.   The Republican primary calendar will focus heavy attention on the South during February and March.

10.   The so-called front-loading of the presidential primary calendar is expected to place a premium on early fund-raising and organizational efforts.