1.   After the election, Bush and the Florida GOP continued to court black support, hoping to solidify their gains.

2.   The night before, he came to this area as the Northern Alliance solidified its gains.

3.   Bosnian government forces, trying to solidify battlefield gains before winter sets in, appear to be running out of ammunition, officials said Wednesday.

4.   Republicans are hoping to solidify their gains on the issue, while Democrats hope to recoup some of the ground they have lost.

5.   The deal proved harder for the United Nations to sell to the government, which feared it would solidify Serb gains on the ground.