And failure to get the program running could be used against him in a potentially tough re-election contest next year.

Last week, Mr. O'Rourke, now engaged in a bitter re-election contest, changed his mind and released the 1994 budget early.

Facing a close re-election contest, Mr. Smith is plainly aware of the mood of his constituents.

Normally, a longtime district attorney would have little to worry about in a re-election contest.

The five senators, each of them involved in a close re-election contest, say it is Mr. Bush and the Republican Party who are being partisan.

Legislators, facing difficult re-election contests because of the newly passed state income tax, lobbied the Governor and the department to reduce withholding.

In his re-election contests he was supported by the Liberals who ran no candidate of their own against him.

The Shaw campaign commercials can be found here: It was only the second difficult re-election contest for Shaw.

But first, Ms. Strebel has a re-election contest to win.

His re-election contest next year has already drawn the interest of half a dozen Republicans, who perceive him as out of the mainstream.