1.   After that, the pundits see a wide-open pack, with Collins right in the middle of it.

2.   In Virginia, Democrats held on to the state legislature even though many political pundits saw a Republican takeover in the making.

3.   Pundits saw it as a gamble by Bush that he would be more likely to appeal to Christian conservatives than offend critics of the dating ban.

4.   Pundits are already seeing the southerly trek as a sign of desperation.

5.   Pundits see it as a spin-off from the beachlike flip-flops and Dr. Scholl sandals that graced the fashion runways in recent years.