Flanagan is the first openly gay Senate candidate of either major party, and the issue of gay civil unions has been a factor in this race as it has in other statewide contests.

CNN: Both parties vie for control of the Senate

Kerry has emerged as the clear leader in the race, winning 14 out of the 16 contests held so far.

CNN: A debate for Democrats is when to fold cards

Not only had many of them been confused by the ballot design for the presidential race, some precincts distributed ballots missing local contests.

FORBES: Florida's Political Airwaves

Despite increasingly long odds, Santorum maintained throughout the last weeks of March that he would stay in the race, citing flawed delegate math and upcoming contests that looked to be in his favor.

CNN: Santorum's decision came down to odds and his daughter

That interest, however, hasn't been brought about by the presidential contests, but rather by the race to succeed popular Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt, who is barred by state law from serving another term.

CNN: After an early spring lull, primary activity heats up in May

However, his victories in West Virginia and the Deep South states of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and his native Arkansas in the February 5 Super Tuesday contests helped force Romney out of the race.

CNN: Huckabee bows to 'inevitable,' ends GOP run

The contests will be the first in the GOP presidential race since former Sen.

CNN: Romney backs extending lowered student loan rates

While all eyes are on the Democratic Convention and the presidential race, don't forget this year's congressional contests.

CNN: What Kerry needs in Boston

Instead it ran in the Grand Prix of Venezuela-Caracas in July 1955 and in many other contests, including a best in class in a 1956 race in Santa Barbara.

FORBES: Vehicles Feature

John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina and 2004 vice-presidential nominee, was the most recent candidate to drop out of the race, having failed to score a win in any of the early contests.

NPR: Solid Wins for McCain; Clinton, Obama Close

Mr Thune replies that this race will not be decisive to control of the Senate anyway, because of close contests elsewhere, and that South Dakota would be better served by a balanced team: Mr Daschle plus someone like himself with proven influence in the White House.

ECONOMIST: The South Dakota Senate race

Thanks to the emergence of technical standards, the winner of a race is likely not only to take all the spoils, but also to start new technological contests with an advantage.

ECONOMIST: Beleaguered Microsoft

It is too early to make hard predictions, but New Jersey's race promises to be every bit as fierce, and perhaps as close-fought, as its contests have usually been.

ECONOMIST: New Jersey politics