Now, at last, I had found a serious candidate who was prepared to let me sleep with him.

There may never have been a "serious" candidate who needed it more.

He wasn't a serious candidate for the club in 1994, one executive said.

No one considered him a serious candidate, except for Parker himself.

However, neither man is considered a serious candidate, several board members said.

He was a serious candidate for only one year, and didn't win.

"The people being interviewed are serious candidates," said one of the officials.

"We're going to find a serious candidate to run against her."

Now the only survivors are likely to be serious candidates.

There will almost certainly be no serious white candidate to oppose him.