1.   As a result its leading members seem chiefly interested in backstabbing their closest rivals.

2.   Along the way, his papers began outselling those of his closest rivals, The Express, The Daily Star and The Express on Sunday.

3.   Analysts said Simon DeBartolo would be twice the size of its closest rival, General Growth Properties Inc., and gain a distinct edge over the competition.

4.   Banco Santander itself is the product of a merger in January, and a combination of its two closest rivals had been rumored for some time.

5.   But Bush and his closest rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, declined to criticize homosexuality and said they support the current policy.

6.   But his closest rivals, Texas Sen. Phil Gramm and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, said the margin proved Dole far from invincible.

7.   Germany is the closest rival.

8.   He continues to best Democratic adversaries by double digits and swamps his closest Republican rival, Elizabeth Dole, by a factor of four.

9.   His closest rival, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, graduated from Harvard and later worked as a Citibank executive.

10.   His closest rival was Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez of Laredo.