This race was initially viewed as one of the few where a Republican had a realistic chance of defeating a Democrat.

He defeated an incumbent Democrat and stayed in office for 10 years, becoming the state's longest-serving governor at the time.

Two years later, he defeated a weaker Democrat, Senator Vance Hartke, and was off to Washington.

He then defeated two other candidates, a Libertarian and a Democrat in the general election.

He sought to raise doubts about one of Mr. Bush's most potent selling points: that he could defeat a Democrat in the general election.

You know, a charismatic leader who stood up to a grave world threat and defeated it vs a Democrat to liberal for the country at large.

DeMint faced no major-party opposition in 2000, and defeated an underfunded Democrat in 2002.

Last November, Mr. Benigni ran for mayor without being affiliated with a political party and defeated a four-term Democrat.

Despite his lack of experience Lodge, a moderate-to-liberal Republican, was viewed as a better choice to defeat a Democrat than a more conservative candidate.

He defeated a fellow Democrat, Jim Donelon, of Jefferson Parish, in the general election.