11.   A good second half will not make up for a first half in which the Wildcats get easy layups and rebounds and get a comfortable lead.

12.   A few months out from election day, polls showed Dukakis with a comfortable lead.

13.   A spate of suicide bombings by Muslim militants wiped out an apparent comfortable lead for Peres after the assassination of Rabin last November.

14.   According to recent polls conducted in Iowa, Bush holds a comfortable lead over Forbes, with Bauer and McCain competing for third place and Keyes and Hatch trailing.

15.   All have come in the late innings after the Mariners were unable to hold what seemed like comfortable leads.

16.   Brown had a comfortable lead over Sanchez as Councilman Chris Bell, in third place, conceded.

17.   Buoyed by polls showing him with a comfortable lead, Clinton displayed the enthusiasm of a front-runner who is about to claim his prize.

18.   Bush also plans to spend two days in California, where polls show Gore holding a comfortable lead.

19.   Bush, who is reaching out to an erstwhile Democratic constituency with a moderate approach, has held a comfortable lead all year.