11.   He is strengthening ties with his leadership lieutenants, like DeLay, the chief Republican vote counter.

12.   He was a parliamentary expert and brilliant vote counter.

13.   --In New Mexico, a computer glitch in the most populous county, Bernalillo, slowed vote counters.

14.   In interviews given outside the building, several of the vote counters - both Democrats and Republicans - said they felt the process was fair.

15.   In toppling him, Davis had a strong assist from Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the Republican whip, or chief vote counter.

16.   On Friday, two days after the last round of court challenges ended, the vote counters resumed their work in a large, cluttered room.

17.   One vote counter would hold a card up and the other would determine which candidate got that vote.

18.   Rep. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., who had served as a vote counter for the bill, asked the Republicans not to call these social programs.

19.   Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said he was outraged by orchestrated protests against vote counters in Miami-Dade County.

20.   The close race between Buchanan and Forbes raised the possibility of a late night for vote counters and candidates.