The trial balloon quality of these remarks was all the more transparent for them coming in response to a seemingly planted question.

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There is good news and bad news about the trial balloon Sen.

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Given its timing, the news appears to be a trial balloon floated by the administration as it struggles to ameliorate the country's economic slump.

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Next the media got excited by the idea that Ted Kennedy Jr. would run for office -- until he quickly popped that trial balloon.

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Meanwhile the major US networks are floating a trial balloon that would see them pull out of over the air broadcasting and focus on cable deals.

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Perhaps Aglialoro shared this preview to float a trial balloon.

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In fact, Mr. Powell floated this as a trial balloon last week, suggesting that Saddam could stay in power if only this time he actually went along with being disarmed.

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The only thing that did seem to draw the media glare away from the Bain free-for-all was last week's trial balloon on the Drudge Report that Romney is seriously pondering former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as his No. 2.

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Gloucestershire County Council had initially agreed to help fund an 18-month trial by the agency at the Air Balloon roundabout on the A417.

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