1.  Another proposal would allow smaller states to go first and larger ones later.

2.  Because the party lacks big state governorships, it is casting about for promising governors from smaller states.

3.  A narrow win in a large state usually gives a candidate all of its electors, and this can overcome larger losses in several smaller states with fewer electors.

4.  Bush was clearly more popular in the South and West, where he piled up electoral numbers from a long list of smaller states.

5.  But a quiet blessing would help secure the cooperation of smaller Persian Gulf states.

6.  But a quiet Saudi blessing would be important to secure the cooperation of the smaller Persian Gulf states.

7.  But Bush also believes the United States is vulnerable to a missile attack from smaller states that possess a handful of long-range missiles.

8.  But critics say the US view implies two levels of justice, one for large states with troops around the world and another for smaller states.

9.  Cleveland, by contrast, piled up big margins in smaller states, particularly in the South.

10.  Few expect the tournament will ever captivate fans like similar tournaments in smaller states such as Oregon and Alaska.