It is also difficult to maintain consistent outputs from the different LEDs so light from the devices tends to drift into off-white hues.

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But the Obama administration's patience -- or just policy drift, we may never know -- paid off.

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It will also be a chance for the parties to shake off some of the challenges that are holding them down, such as the right-wing drift of the GOP -- which could hurt the chances of the Republican candidates in 2016, regardless of how charismatic and talented they are.

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