61.   But surely, I suggested, national political conventions would definitively legitimize the city at last.

62.   But the larger controversy arose over the voting on delegates to the national convention in San Diego.

63.   But then, this is a national convention where the main commodity these days is irony.

64.   But they appalled national conservatives by also backing the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a moderate organization formed as an alternative to the national convention.

65.   But with the national convention at hand, a different spirit prevails.

66.   By contrast, the Democrats are parading six avowed homosexuals before the cameras at their national convention here this week to show that they welcome homosexuals.

67.   By installing his wife at the head of the Arizona delegation, McCain assures himself additional media exposure at the national convention.

68.   But, only votes from registered Republicans will count in selecting GOP delegates and only votes from registered Democrats count in selecting Democratic delegates for the national conventions.

69.   Candidate qualifying for the race will open Wednesday, but Republicans leave at the end of this week for their national convention in Philadelphia.