1.   Abortion has proven to be a wedge issue for Forbes and an irritation for Bush.

2.   But Republicans have shown a special talent for wedge issues, at least in recent presidential politics.

3.   Christ, the new wedge issue.

4.   Gov. Pete Wilson of California used it as a wedge issue, pushing the regents of the University of California to ban all consideration of race in admissions.

5.   He steadfastly refused to follow the example of his fellow Republican governor Pete Wilson of California, who used them as wedge issues.

6.   He tried to become president using one wedge issue after another, from punishing illegal immigrants to ending affirmative action.

7.   He rails against affirmative action and illegal immigration, the kind of dark wedge issues Nixon and his protege, Gov. Pete Wilson, deftly employed.

8.   Immigrant bashing then swept into the presidential campaign as a wedge issue.

9.   In narrow political terms, the goal of a common-ground strategy is to disarm opponents by methodically stripping them of their wedge issues.

10.   In the political realm, gay rights has emerged as a wedge issue.