He cannot, for even a small defeat must reflect upon his power.

But Mr. Downs also said that the defeat of the contract reflected broad dissatisfaction with its provisions.

Wellington's defeat of the incumbent National Party candidate Neil Turner in the closely contested 1998 election reflected the instability in Queensland politics at the time.

But Mr. Green's defeat, it seems fair to say, reflects more than any character flaws or even lavish spending by his opponent.

Political analysts said the defeat reflected a feeling among Swedes that the government was adrift and that the social welfare system had encouraged too many people to stay out of work.

The defeat reflected many voters' fears that Irish money would be siphoned off to subsidize needier countries in the east.

The defeat reflected public disapproval of the impeachment which was instigated by the party.

Top Republican officials insisted that the defeat of their gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey, who both expressed opposition to abortion, did not necessarily reflect national trends on abortion.

However, Ms. Rogers, who is white, said her defeat of Ms. SalmonCampbell, who is black, did not reflect the denomination's attitude about race.

To some rank-and-file party members, the defeat reflected inexcusable and selfish blunders by Mr. Lee and his failure to democratize the party's own methods of candidate selection.