1.   Even Democratic prospects for hanging onto the governorship in Kentucky, the other key contest to be decided Tuesday, have dimmed.

2.   Inside a clear box that offers no possibility of escape, a column of light shines down on the platform where the violent contests are decided.

3.   It was not that they felt the contest would be decided anytime soon, but that the party had two candidates who were qualified and worthy of the job.

4.   It is hard to imagine a scenario in which the contests are not decided by mid-March, and it could end many weeks sooner.

5.   It will, quite properly, be political appeal and depth of party support, rather than racial alignments, that decide the contest.

6.   That contest was not decided until a field-goal attempt by the Crimson bounced off the right goal post in the final seconds.

7.   That was the type of good fortune and purposefulness that decided the contest.

8.   That would mean that the House of Representatives would decide the contest, a disruptive scenario that Perot said he wanted to avoid.

9.   The Knicks had a big inside advantage, which eventually helped decide the contest.

10.   Their last four contests have been decided by seven points or less.