His star rose among some political handicappers because he was one of the few potential candidates who voted for the resolution authorizing the use of force in the gulf.

In life, Nixon was famed as a 20-20 political handicapper.

Measured by political handicappers' cliche standards, none of the three Presidential candidates committed a dreaded "gaffe" in last night's third debate.

"Her numbers are pretty good," said Stuart Rothenberg, a political handicapper.

After tough battles in her first two runs, she won her last race by 30 percentage points, and political handicappers believe her seat is secure.

But political handicappers tend to dismiss the literary route as anathema to the restless Giuliani.

But Councilman O'Donovan, a Democrat who has done his share of moralizing in debate, is above all a veteran political handicapper.

Mr. King listened politely, and then informed Mr. Quayle that one political handicapper "thinks your prospects are poor."

"At this stage, the political handicappers wouldn't say it's a big political plus for us."

Most political handicappers here give the Nassau County executive, Thomas S. Gulotta, very long odds should he run this year for a fourth full term.