Mike Huckabee's surprising victory in Iowa last night turned the Republican race for US president upside down.
Mr Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas and a Baptist preacher, rode a wave of support from evangelical Christians and overcame some late campaign missteps to win Iowa ahead of fellow Republican Mitt Romney.
Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee addresses supporters in Grinnell, Iowa
Iowa kicked off the state-by-state battles to determine which Republican and Democratic candidates will face off in a November election to replace George W. Bush as president in January 2009.
Mr Huckabee's campaign is on a shoestring budget, and many from his party will have to wrestle with whether his victory in conservative Iowa translates into his being the most electable Republican nationwide.
The come-from-behind Mr Huckabee victory meant the race was still wide open, but put Mr Romney - a multimillionaire former governor of Massachusetts who would be the first Mormon president - in a tight spot.
Mr Romney appeared to be poised for a second-place finish in a state where he spent millions of dollars and had a big lead only months ago, but Mr Huckabee emerged to pull ahead of the crowded Republican field.
The Huckabee victory would appear to make New Hampshire, which next Tuesday holds the next contest on the road to the November presidential, a nearly must-win state for Mr Romney.
The win also provides a jolt of momentum for Arizona Republican Senator John McCain in New Hampshire, where he is providing a strong challenge to Mr Romney.
Mr Huckabee's win, by denying Mr Romney the momentum of an Iowa victory, could also benefit Republican Rudy Giuliani in the states to follow.
The former New York mayor, whose support for abortion rights and gay rights never played well in Iowa, is hoping to survive until 20 states that might prove more favourable to him vote on February 5th.
The fact that Mr Romney did not win Iowa would seem to help Mr Giuliani argue that the race is still wide open.