Perhaps as important, ideological distinctions are blurring as the debate matures.

The White House may be relying on old tactics and old ideological distinctions in the face of a new politics.

The two competing schools held strongly to the ideological distinctions between their leaders.

In non-Western media systems, politics are not shaped by ideological distinctions between left and right.

"I feel very good about the matchup because it's going to offer the voters a very clear ideological distinction between her and I," he said.

Despite Mr. McMillan's attempt to draw an ideological distinction in the closing moments of the hour-long session, the two candidates agreed far more than they disagreed.

In some cases there are religious ideological distinctions between Hasidic groups, as well.

What Mr. Toledo and Mr. Fujimori have in common is their blurring of ideological distinctions.

But it is a volatile campaign, fought not so much on great ideological distinctions, some political analysts say, as on questions of management and emphasis.

Melisa Kirby of Scudder, Stevens & Clark, which advises foundations, universities, cities and states, knows all about ideological distinctions.