Such remarks are common these days as the 45-year-old seeks to simmer down the buzz about his political future even as his travel schedule suggests he has clear national aspirations, perhaps as early as 2016.

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It automatically turns the heat down to a simmer temperature once the pan begins to boil.

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They point out that one cause of the new competition is that bookmakers were allowed to set up in Tattersalls, the big-money ring on courses, without serving an apprenticeship in the quids-and-dollars Silver Ring: when these neophytes come to a sticky end, competition will simmer down.

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The delay may also be an effort to let the political maelstrom over the hacking scandal simmer down, and distance the deal from that scandal.

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Mr. Huang said the local markets were likely to rise further, citing expectations that the European debt crisis will simmer down and China will ease its monetary policy in the near future.

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