Mr. Jackson won only 20 percent of the late deciders, as against 31 perent of those who said they had made their minds up before Saturday.

She said she was confident of that prediction because women traditionally were late deciders.

Some late deciders, pro and con, and one more passenger at the last possible split second-woman named Eleanor Johnson.

"Women are the late deciders; old people still disproportionately vote."

Both candidates followed a similar course yesterday, visiting not only the neighborhoods that make up their bases of support but also those in which they believe they can pick up some late deciders.

Answer: Do all voting by e-mail, allowing final-second bidding by late deciders, as Democrats want.

"If New Jerseyans are late deciders, those late deciders typically break for the challenger."

"There are a lot of late deciders."

The numbers and impact of these late deciders can be sizable.

In 2000, the stage is set for late deciders to determine the victor.