Ms. Aydelott, the trial lawyer, emerged as the early front-runner on the strength of her fund-raising.

His candidacy did not find ground, overshadowed by earlier front-runners.

That he has been able to do it in Dallas under such extreme fire easily makes him an early front-runner for coach of the year.

The favourite was not among the early front-runners, but Lye moved steadily forward and positioned her just behind the leaders in the straight.

Mr. Bush emerged from the event undamaged and preserved his status as the early front-runner.

The following year, Phillips became an early front-runner for the Heisman Trophy.

Charlotte and St. Louis have long been considered the early front-runners.

Stoops, the Oklahoma coach, was the early front-runner.

They perceived a damaging liberal taint to the Democrats' early front-runners in recent years.

Considered the early front-runner, he lost by a narrow margin (1,300 votes).