Bill Bradley proves a few truths: ; Voting blocs, bucks,; Independents, race and stature at work

WASHINGTON - In the NBA, what they call "garbage time" comes latein the fourth quarter of lopsided games, when scrubs are sent intothe game so the starters can rest their aching knees for the nextgame. But in a political campaign there is no substitution, so BillBradley, who must by now be one large ache, has to play out theclock, which probably will run out Tuesday.

Since he was in high school, people have been saying he would bepresident. He will not be in 2001, and this year may have lost forreasons that suggest a second attempt would be futile. Having failedwith his full-court press in Washington state, Bradley faces acontinentwide crushing on Tuesday.

Failure, …