71.   The diverging attitudes on gays was made clear before the debate began as candidates took a few predebate questions from the audience.

72.   The focus remains on getting candidates to take the pledge voluntarily.

73.   The little-known candidates are taking the unusual step of taking a direct-mail campaign statewide, an expensive practice.

74.   The other three candidates have taken similarly peripatetic tacks.

75.   The poll has been ridiculously hyped, but all the GOP candidates have taken it very seriously as a crucial test of campaign strategy and organization.

76.   The other major candidates took a pass on this contest.

77.   The U.S. Supreme Court today declined a chance to make it easier for third-party candidates to take part in presidential debates.

78.   They also said that some candidates took advantage of the opportunity to remake themselves before the public.

79.   These are also the times that candidates take credit for good things that happened or blame their opponent for bad things.

80.   Throughout this season of the soccer mom, candidates have taken up breast cancer as a campaign issue.