Finally, and perhaps most critically, there is the danger that Gore, to maintain his front-runner status, will concentrate too much on fund-raising.

A promising early fund-raising effort can confer front-runner status on a candidate even before a vote has been cast.

Missouri may be the best example from Tuesday's primaries of the voters' choosing on the basis of front-runner status.

NBC News has held front-runner status on broadcast television for a couple of years.

Libertarian-leaning Ron Paul poses perhaps the most serious threat to to challenge his front-runner status.

In previous elections when character was an issue, the candidate had clearly lost front-runner status or dropped out by this late stage.

There are a couple of horses campaigning for that front-runner status on what so far amounts to a "draft me" candidacy.

Those tales sounded too farfetched, although I knew boxing was somehow behind my front-runner status.

A third has maintained her front-runner status in most polls despite being called a liberal.

Despite Sanders's initial front-runner status and popularity, Carter won by nearly 20 points.