"Clinton doesn't look too good against either of them," Edwards said.

Visiting Professor of Government James W. Ceaser agreed that the disharmony within the GOP means a brokered convention is not out of the question.

"There are more demonstrations of weakness in the coalition," said Ceaser, who is a tenured professor at the University of Virginia. "The boldness of the Contract with America has been forgotten for the moment."

While Ceaser called the possibility of nominating a fresh candidate like Kemp or Powell a "longshot," he added that negotiations between state party leaders in preparation for a brokered convention could begin as early as April, well before the convention.

However, Harvard Republican Club President Jay M. Dickerson '98 said he believes the party will choose a candidate in time for the convention this summer.

"Dole is going to emerge," he said.

The Senate Majority Leader--still considered the front-runner by most analysts--won consolation victories Tuesday in less significant primaries in North and South Dakota.

"The Dakotas were pretty good for him," Dickerson said. "He just needs to get a big state under his belt."

Edwards said he does not read a lot into Dole's losing Arizona, a state in which the senator did little campaigning and snubbed angry voters by missing a debate there last week.

Dole, who Caesar called "a weak front-runner," has already guaranteed victory in South Carolina's crucial primary Saturday.

"By default, you keep coming back to Dole," said Ceaser, who said Dole is considered by many voters as the most "plausible" candidate for the presidency, although he is certainly not in the shape he wanted to be in.

However, the South may be even more crucial for Alexander, who did not campaign in Arizona and the Dakotas because he wanted to focus on the South and the New England states, where primaries will be held next Tuesday.

"[Alexander] kind of got a bye Tuesday," said Ceaser, who added that it is "make-or-break time" for the moderate candidate in the upcoming week.

Others are already writing off the former governor, who finished fourth in South Dakota and Arizona, and fifth in North Dakota.

"Alexander is an empty plaid shirt," Edwards said.