The security needs there have diminished in recent days because Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has said that unlike his predecessors, he intends to continue living at his East Side town house.
Though the level of fighting has diminished there, he said, an additional 140,000 people have sought refuge in camps since January.
"His momentum has diminished, but there was an expectation for him that was built beyond reality," Mr. King said.
While tornadoes are still possible, the likelihood has diminished; on Tuesday there was one report of a tornado, compared with 17 the day before.
"Although the scientific importance has diminished, I think there will be a lot of interest this time among the public, based on e-mail I've seen from around the world".
"As time has gone on, the chance of finding someone alive has diminished and, sadly, there becomes a point where the response effort shifts in focus from rescue to body recovery," he said.
"There is no doubt that violence has diminished significantly in the past two or three years — and many, including myself, have been slow to recognize how significant this reduction has been," said Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College and one of the leading academic voices on Darfur.
His cancer has diminished greatly, and there are only a handful of satellite cells that doctors are observing.
There is no evidence that any of this has diminished Mr. Bush's standing with the public.
I think this year — even though there's still some of the sentiment — that perception has diminished.
