Hagan named one of 10 upsets

Politico says the Senate race was among the top 10 upsets.

The D.C.-based political newspaper said Sen.-elect Kay Hagan "wasn't expected to have much of a shot" at beating Sen. Elizabeth Dole because of the incumbent's "star power and imposing fundraising skills."

But Dole’s national profile proved to be a double-edged sword. Hagan used it to portray the incumbent as a Washington politician who had lost touch with North Carolina. She gained steadily throughout the summer and the fall, leading Dole to unleash a barrage of blistering attack ads that ended up hurting her own image even more than they damaged Hagan.

The result on Election Day? A nine-point win for the Greensboro legislator. 

Others on the list included Barack Obama's November win in Indiana, Mike Huckabee's win in Iowa, Hillary Clinton's in New Hampshire, John McCain's in South Carolina, and Congressional races in Louisiana, Alaska, Virginia and Illinois.