The ruling in Texas also means that the United States Supreme Court will avoid what could have been an awkward last-minute vote in Mr. Beazley's case.

Though it has been in many ways a stealth campaign, the first shoots of democracy appear to have pushed through in the final days, with campaigns on the upswing to get last-minute votes.

Primary's only ten days off, and there's nothing like a cripple to pick up a few last-minute votes.

The last-minute vote reflected a sudden turnabout by the board, and tenant leaders blamed Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani for the change of heart.

Mr. Goldin, who was to have taken over as president last Saturday, withdrew from the position last week after a group of trustees gave him a last-minute vote of no confidence.

Would Mr. Goldin, a fierce infighter, hold onto the job, even after a group of trustees had given him a last-minute vote of no confidence?

In a last-minute vote before Thanksgiving adjournment, the lawmakers ordered a new set of rules imposing stricter limits and shorter seasons.

Even as the administration is trying to round up last-minute votes, the vice president was engaged with labor out of town rather than working against it on Capitol Hill.

The people have spoken, but we can't help but wonder whether the undecided who held the crucial swing votes considered the implications of their last-minute votes.

Hartmann was on the phone, she said, trying to round up last-minute votes.