91.   But McCain is gaining ground.

92.   But Microsoft, which clobbered Lotus in spreadsheet software years ago, is gaining ground in groupware.

93.   But some small companies are gaining ground on the lumbering bears that have dominated instant messaging for years.

94.   But nonbanks appear to be making headway on banking turf faster than banks are gaining ground elsewhere.

95.   But others have gained ground, and one hot trend has been to include racy letters supposedly written by readers.

96.   But the attacks and counter-attacks provided the most vivid demonstration so far of a growing fight among the candidates trying to gain ground on fronter-runner Dole.

97.   But the important question is whether democracy is gaining ground in Africa, or losing it.

98.   But Saddam has lost nothing in this confrontation and may indeed have gained some ground.

99.   But the multiple-rating idea is gaining ground among a number of cyber-firms and pro-Internet trade groups.

100.   But the rebels steadily gained ground, so Sierra Leone turned to South African mercenaries for help.