When the campaign began, we targeted parts of the state that had a high rate of Democratic defectors.

Mr. Giuliani's most notable Democratic defector, John S. Dyson, chairman of the State Power Authority, loaned the campaign $100,000 last week to reserve television time.

If Mr. Clinton's hopes of being able to work with the Republicans to build a "vital center" are met, he can navigate without liberal Democratic defectors in Congress to enact a legislative program.

So far, they have succeeded in attracting only a few Democratic defectors.

A big Democratic loss will 1) erode Clinton's support among his own party and 2) make it possible for Republican senators to remove him without any Democratic defectors.

Equally important, when he can win over a smattering of Democratic defectors - and both houses have some Republican-leaning Democrats - he will be able to push through his bills.

After refusing to comment on the issue for some time, Thompson was one of eight Democratic defectors on Eliot Spitzer's unpopular policy allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses.

Niagara Falls received an extra 25 percent; its Mayor, James C. Galie, was another Democratic defector.

Most of the Democratic defectors are up for re-election next year.

There was little pattern to the Democratic defectors except that they tended to be somewhat conservative and to have shaky seats politically.