The pre-election years did far better, gaining 15.9 percent, on average, over that time - and there were no instances in which the Dow lost ground.

Party staffers report a rise unusual even for a pre-election year.

Both Kerry and Edwards are yes-but on Iraq, the defining issue of the pre-election year.

That was an obvious pre-election year attempt to put the president on the spot.

I respect and understand that the requirements of domestic politics can make it very difficult to conclude an agreement in a pre-election year.

And if you could somehow cage even those issue groups during election season, they would flourish in pre-election years.

There is a national and international perception that the Administration and Congress are unable to adress these issues in a pre-election year.

Which would be formulated in the pre-election year which was for obvious reasons.

Let us not forget that 2011 is a pre-election year for Serbia, with parliamentary and local elections due to take place in March 2012.

However, a candidate can underspend or overspend in the pre-election year and either add to or deduct from the election year spending.