1.   And the race has appeared to defy the conventional wisdom that runaway contests inevitably tighten in the final weeks.

2.   Back then the Democratic race appeared to be anything but a one-on-one duel.

3.   Both races appear to be close.

4.   But the trial, before a jury that had just two black members, race did not appear to play a role.

5.   California surveys show Gore leading, though the race appears to have narrowed somewhat over the last month.

6.   Democrats say theirs make the race appear even.

7.   Despite the reported advantage for Zedillo, the race appears tight.

8.   It was Merrill who, ignoring objections from Dole headquarters in Washington that a dog race would appear unseemly, planned for Dole to attend the event on Saturday.

9.   Many older alumni took the Dole-Kemp bumper stickers offered, but for most game-goers, the presidential race appeared already moot.