"The Latino community is a crucial and vital constituency," Mr. Hevesi said.

During Mr. Pataki's re-election campaign, critics said he was not taking a leadership role in the rebuilding because forceful decisions could anger constituencies vital to the campaign.

Narsapur is vital constituency for local political parties.

The company also builds ties with another vital constituency: ambulance, police and fire personnel, who call for helicopters and often decide which operator to use.

Together, the Mayor's moves highlighted the candidates' battle for the support of three vital constituencies - women, liberal Jews and Hispanic voters - as the race moved solidly into a new phase: direct confrontation.

Hispanics, a vital constituency in November, were outraged, despite Mr. Vilsack's assurances that the bill had enough exceptions to be practically meaningless.

It would especially appeal to Internet and applications programmers, a vital constituency if Apple were to prosper, for consumers will only buy computers for which software is plentiful.

Especially eager to get the islands are rightists who are a vital constituency of the governing Liberal Democratic Party.

Both banks of the Jukskei represent vital constituencies for Nelson Mandela's African National Congress - the angry masses and the anxious middle class.

Gore, for instance, insinuated himself into the negotiations over the balanced budget, emerging with measures to help him with vital Democratic constituencies.