Many in the nation's capital worried about the nomination fight.
These races were seen as Clinton's last chance to make a comeback in the nomination fight.
It is far more important than the politics of the nomination fight.
Several other good Democrats seemed likely to run, so the nomination fight was sure to be hard.
Republicans who have not taken sides in the nomination fight agreed.
Traditionally the Speaker does not become involved in nomination fights.
And like the presidential election, a nomination fight will be expensive.
The nomination fight reflected the fault lines that divide Republicans nationally.
As the nomination fight gets under way, Bush is unlikely to start off with the firm blessing of the religious right.
"Everything in the Government is being poured into this nomination fight."