1.   Although a number of polls have shown Clinton with a slight lead over Lazio, her aides believe the contest remains volatile.

2.   But Gallup does not find nearly so strong a pattern, suggesting that the contest remains very close at all levels of turnout.

3.   But most contests remain undecided.

4.   Despite these nits, the Wisconsin contest remains a model of spending restraint, compared with campaigns in most other states.

5.   Gore advisers promise the money will be poured into last-minute TV commercials in states where the contest remains dead even.

6.   Her September contest against Riggs remains perhaps the strangest setting ever for a tennis match.

7.   Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, says the debates take on added significance this year because the contest remains so deadlocked.

8.   That could change, however, if the contest between Al Gore and George W. Bush remains as close as many political observers have predicted.

9.   The contest remained so topsy-turvy that both candidates were forced to devote precious time in the final days in states that they should have locked up weeks ago.

10.   A week after the balloting, the crucial Senate contests remain undecided and too close to call.