Americans in eight states and the District of Columbia vote in primaries tomorrow, setting the stage for November mid-term elections that could be heavily influenced by the President Clinton scandal.
Primaries were scheduled in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island and the state of Washington to choose candidates for governor, congressional seats, state legislatures and many lesser offices. Voters in North Carolina were selecting candidates for the House of Representatives.
In Washington, where the winner of the Democratic primary invariably wins elections, voters were effectively choosing their next mayor to succeed the colourful and controversial Mr Marion Barry.
Previous primaries this year have set records for low turnout, which could spell trouble for Democrats. They fear that many of their traditional supporters, disillusioned or disgusted by Mr Clinton's affair with the former White House intern, Ms Monica Lewinsky, could stay at home, setting the stage for big Republican gains.
Thirty-six governorships, 34 Senate seats and all 435 seats of the House of Representatives are at stake in the November 3rd mid-term elections.
Perhaps the most publicised single primary is for the Democratic Senate nomination in New York. Support for the former vice-presidential nominee Ms Geraldine Ferraro appeared to be crumbling in the face of a strong challenge from Representative Charles Schumer.
Despite her national reputation, Ms Ferraro has failed to connect with voters or build an effective fund-raising organisation. Defeat would probably mark the end of her political career.
The winner will face Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who earlier this year had appeared to be one of the most vulnerable Republicans in the country. However, Mr D'Amato has built a $10-million war chest and polls now show him leading any potential Democratic rival.
In the race for governor, New York City council speaker, Mr Peter Vallone, seemed set to win the Democratic nomination to face the Republican incumbent, Mr George Pataki, in November. Mr Pataki was strongly favoured to win a second term - a telling sign of Democratic weakness in one of its traditional strongholds.
Republican governors currently control 32 states with three-quarters of the nation's population. They could add to that number by winning Maryland, another Democratic stronghold whose Governor, Parris Glendening, is locked in a tie with the Republican Ms Ellen Sauerbrey in recent polls.
Democrats have high hopes of capturing the governors' mansions in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Rhode Island. In Massachusetts, they were expected to nominate the Attorney General, Mr Scott Harshbarger, to face the acting governor, Mr Paul Cellucci, the probable Republican nominee, in what is likely to be a tight race.