"In the process, some of the earlier positions that we tabled have come off the table."

He said the committee was prepared to consider the request and modify its earlier position.

"I don't think it ever recovered its earlier position from that moment," she said.

The board reaffirmed its earlier position that the company should stay independent.

He worked himself from an early 11th position to fifth by the seventh round and held it.

In any event, the Administration spokesmen today clearly moved away from their earlier positions.

"The job security," Jim said, "might not be much like that of your earlier position."

But after two public hearings late last month, the landmarks commission seems ready to back off its earlier position.

"I guess it's never too late, but the earlier you do it, the much better position you're in."

Stephens and Maple said that they were trying to get early position without necessarily being on the lead.