11.   James B. Hunt Jr., the popular Democratic incumbent, sought his second consecutive term as governor and fourth overall against Robin Hayes, a Republican.

12.   Lucas is expected to face a steep uphill battle against the popular Democratic incumbent, Jeanne Shaheen, who was unopposed.

13.   Many of the most ardent Messinger supporters said they did not expect her to upset the popular incumbent.

14.   Mrs. Kennelly had never had a tough congressional race, and admits she was utterly unprepared to challenge a popular incumbent.

15.   No one expected much of Bush when he ran for governor against a popular incumbent with a national following.

16.   Renomination was a foregone conclusion for William McKinley, the popular incumbent reckoned as unbeatable.

17.   That strategy was motivated by another goal, too, when reasonably popular incumbents were saddled with vulnerable running-mates.

18.   To some degree, Bush was simply playing the role of a popular incumbent reluctant to share a stage with a long-shot challenger.

19.   Tommy Burks, the popular incumbent Democrat who was expected to win easily, is dead and buried.

20.   Tommy Burks, the popular incumbent Democrat who was expected to win easily, is dead.