Dems, Republicans both reach top 10 upsets

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Barack Obama's unlikely wins in two traditionally Republican states in his quest for the U.S. presidency was among Politico's top 10 political upsets in 2008.

The list of unexpected victories included former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's win in the Iowa Republican caucus and eventual GOP nominee John McCain's primary win in South Carolina, thought to be prime Huckabee territory, the Washington publication said.

Obama's wins Nov. 4 in Indiana and Nebraska raised eyebrows because they were in states considered safely Republican. In Nebraska, which allots its Electoral College votes by congressional district, the eventual president-elect picked off one electoral vote, forcing Nebraska to split its support between the two presidential candidates for the first time ever.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's primary win in New Hampshire also made the upset list since she ran a poor third in the Iowa Democratic party caucuses to Obama.

Other upset wins included on Politico's list were:

-- Democrat Bill Foster over GOP Jim Oberweis to finish out the term of former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois.

-- Democrat Tom Perriello's long-shot win over Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va.

-- Alaskan Republican Rep. Don Young's re-election over challenger Ethan Berkowitz despite a federal corruption investigation.

-- Democrat state Rep. Kay Hagan's stunner over Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.

-- Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao's win over indicted Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., becoming the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress and representing a Democratic district that's majority African-American.