61.   The organizer of the donations, and one of the chief givers, was Jon Corzine, the Democratic contender for the Senate, a rookie candidate.

62.   The other Democratic contender, former Sen. Bill Bradley, had no visible presence at the Merrimack parade.

63.   The other Democratic contenders, Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross and Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, have made similar statements in recent days.

64.   The only other Democratic gubernatorial contender, Houston lawyer John WorldPeace, was not invited to speak.

65.   The news is even less heartening for Checchi, who has slid into third place among the Democratic gubernatorial contenders, according to the Times poll.

66.   The possible Democratic contenders are a pretty uninspiring lot.

67.   The North Carolinian is one of four expected Democratic presidential contenders who accept soft money, despite having voted to ban it.

68.   The unexpected face-off between the Republican candidates has also bolstered the chances for the leading Democratic contender, Mayor Jan Jones of Las Vegas.

69.   There are no Democratic contenders.

70.   This presents a clear point of difference with Democratic presidential contender Al Gore, who has urged South Carolinians to take down the flag.