1.   A popular Democratic incumbent, Burks was found shot dead in his pickup truck.

2.   But the popular incumbent had managed to avoid a huge television campaign.

3.   But the nature and timing of the ads underscore how hard it will be for any of the Democrats to unseat the popular Republican incumbent, George Pataki.

4.   Except in rare instances of a popular incumbent, the presidency, that ultimate political prize, is never handed over on a platter.

5.   For one, the electorate has a history of not throwing out popular incumbents.

6.   Given the booming economy and a popular incumbent, the models were unanimous.

7.   He challenged a popular Republican incumbent in the Third Congressional District.

8.   He served three terms, switched to the Republican Party and then became Texas agriculture commissioner in a stunning upset of the popular Democratic incumbent, Jim Hightower.

9.   He is a popular incumbent and a shrewd strategist, a prodigious fund-raiser and a moderate whose appeal crosses regional and ideological bounds.

10.   In running for Texas governor, Bush broke with conventional wisdom by challenging a popular incumbent, Democrat Ann Richards.