1.   After sprinkling favors on union after union, Pataki is on the verge of getting an unusually large number of labor endorsements for a Republican.

2.   But more important than a major labor endorsement is the grass-roots support of working people, Wyche said.

3.   Even so, the labor endorsement is important in the Democratic contest.

4.   Gore, for his part, appeared confident and relaxed Tuesday, joking with college students in Indianola and picking up a labor endorsement in Knoxville.

5.   Moreover, the expected labor endorsement will not be unanimous.

6.   The labor endorsement was followed by a tactical blunder.

7.   The labor endorsement is especially important to Gore.

8.   Gore got good news Monday when there were growing signs that the AFL-CIO will back his candidacy with a critical labor endorsement.