21.   If the expected race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Giuliani tightens, those votes would look even sweeter than they do already.

22.   If the race tightens, expect Clinton to respond in kind.

23.   In the last days of the campaign, the race tightened somewhat.

24.   Many people expect the race to tighten considerably and predict that some white voters who told pollsters they would vote for Watts would not.

25.   Most political analysts, among them Sperling, say the race will tighten in the weeks ahead.

26.   Races tightened Sunday in all three NFC divisions and in the AFC East.

27.   President Clinton won Ohio, though the race tightened a bit toward the end.

28.   Republican strategists have said they expect the race to tighten.

29.   Republicans insist that the presidential race will tighten and that traditional Republican voters and states will come home to the party.

30.   Texas Gov. George W. Bush also has stepped up his appeal to veterans as the race has tightened in New Hampshire.