Springs has been buying up weaker rivals for the last 18 months, including the window and bedding division of Burlington.

There are fewer open seats than is traditional and many incumbents face particularly weak rivals this year.

Then Pakistan, a weaker rival, could do no less.

The government, the critics say, is wrongly steering funds to banks to take over weaker rivals.

If it's feeling the chill from Europe, weaker rivals must also be shivering.

Southwest's record and solid labor relations give investors confidence that it will continue to prosper more than weaker rivals.

The risk, however, is that in sorting the strong companies from weaker rivals, consumers will drive some insurers out of business.

He won a closer than expected re-election in 2003 against a weak Democratic rival, and his administration started to experience problems.

With an attenuated universe of readers, market share can only come from weaker rivals.

So far, most deals have involved big companies and weaker rivals.