He said the parties had a strong incentive to unite behind a candidate early and start fighting the other party.

The main problem for the opposition was that they failed to unite behind a single candidate.

This time, she will likely face only minimal opposition, with state Republicans struggling to unite behind a candidate to run against her.

He won that election with about 38 percent of the vote, largely because the opposition was unable to unite behind a single candidate.

Their logic is that he could do well if most of the opposition was not able to unite behind a single candidate.

Moreover, he said, the opposition bears great responsibility for the results because it failed to unite behind a single candidate.

Another would make it easier for opposition parties to unite behind a joint presidential candidate in 2000.

The party has not united behind a candidate for governor.

He, too, considered his action a protest against the failure of opposition leaders to unite behind a single candidate in next week's presidential election.

That would allow the opposition to unite behind a single candidate in a second round.