It's unclear whether Mr. Paladino received the 50, 000 votes needed Tuesday to win a ballot line for his Taxpayer's Party in upcoming elections.

WSJ: Paladino's Influence in Question

The lesson, said supporters of the mayor's effort, is that Mr. Bloomberg likely needs to win a few important fights at the ballot box in order to win fights in Congress.

WSJ: Mayor's 2014 Gun Push

But a tally based on the number of papers sent out to members in 1997, in the ballot to endorse Mr Hague's leadership election win, yields a total of just over 399, 000.

BBC: Hague membership drive falters

The polls suggest that Mr de la Rua will win by a margin big enough to avoid a run-off ballot.

ECONOMIST: Argentina��s next steps

Even assuming that Mr Davis can be ousted, Mr Schwarzenegger has a fight on his hands to win the second, beauty-contest, part of the ballot.

ECONOMIST: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bowing to US, European and Saudi pressure to give Hizbullah in coalition negotiations what it failed to win at the ballot box, Hariri announced shortly after the election that he supports the establishment of a unity government.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Syria��s hour of triumph