71.   So the automotive industry closed ranks and defended its increasingly popular special-purpose vehicles.

72.   Some Democratic groups have begun to close ranks behind Bryant.

73.   Suicide can still prompt families to close ranks against the curious.

74.   That has prompted the vice president to personally contact dozens of influential party leaders in an effort to close party ranks.

75.   The appointment of Davies, who was passed over for the chief executive job when Williamson retired, is largely seen as a move to close ranks.

76.   The business side of the NBC unit promptly closed ranks.

77.   The Democrats on the panel, led by Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., were unable to close ranks to oppose the proposal.

78.   The defendants have seemed to close ranks as well.

79.   The end result, Geoffrion said, is that the team has closed ranks.

80.   The family closed ranks as best it could.