11.   But the race tightened in the closing days when several polls showed him and Franks even.

12.   But there can be no doubt that the race has tightened.

13.   But when the race with Harman and Davis tightened a few months ago, voters reacted against the harsh ads that Checchi unleashed against Harman.

14.   Clinton arrived here as polls showed that the race was tightening in California, even though Gore still held a lead of three to eight percentage points.

15.   Clinton strategists predict the race will tighten closer to November.

16.   Democrats appear to be leading in Minnesota, New Jersey and Nebraska, although election analysts say all three races have tightened.

17.   Dole faces an uphill struggle here, but both sides say the race is tightening.

18.   Democratic strategists maintain that internal polling shows that the race is tightening.

19.   His aides say they expect that Gore will unify his own base and that will cause the race to tighten after the Democratic National Convention in August.

20.   If the race tightens, he could take enough votes from the Republican, who also opposes abortion rights, to allow Hyatt to squeak through.