if you 省略, it's like: a greater proportion ( A ) than in any previous election(B)
you compare A with B. they are incomparable.
[此贴子已经被作者于2003-11-12 9:36:31编辑过]
Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1982, a greater proportion than in any previous election.
Soaring television costs accounted for more than half the spending in the presidential campaign of 1982, a greater proportion (in the presidential campaign of 1982) than in any previous election. 这样比较可不可以?