Most political experts give Ms. Terry little chance of closing the gap.

The researchers happily signed her group's agreement, Ms. Terry said.

"Her past sexual history is not on trial," Ms. Terry said.

Madly in love at the time, Ms. Terry had asked if she would soon become engaged.

Ms. Terry, an accountant, said she and her husband owned another house in Houston.

Ms. Terry, a subway train operator, said it was their first time back at the museum in a few years.

Ms. Terry seldom mentions them and appears with them even less often.

Ms. Terry said she would like to have her two-bedroom apartment air-conditioned.

"In my kind of business we have to have something not everyone is going to love," Ms. Terry said.

Ms. Terry declined to provide sales figures for her company.