(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-04 10:35

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee capped come-from-behind campaigns with Iowa victories on Thursday to win the first contests of the U.S. presidential nominating race, U.S. media reported. 

Wanda Van Wyk, a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), watches results at the Obama headquarters during the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa January 3, 2008. [Agencies]

The two one-time underdogs defeated candidates who had for months been leading in the polls with Obama beating Hillary Clinton and Huckabee knocking off Mitt Romney in the fight to be the presidential candidates in the November election.

Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Baptist minister, beat Romney fairly easily despite being dramatically outspent by the wealthy former Massachusetts governor and venture capitalist.

Obama, an Illinois senator, surged late in his three-way battle with Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Second place was still too close to call.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) greets potential caucus goers during a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa, January 3, 2008. [Agencies]

Iowa voters filled gathering spots in more than 1,700 precincts around the state to declare a presidential preference in Iowa's caucuses, which open the state-by-state battle to choose candidates in the November 4 election to succeed President George W. Bush.

Huckabee's upset reshaped a Republican race where no candidate has been able to claim front-runner status.

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Iowa, where a sizable bloc of religious conservatives had fueled Huckabee's rapid rise, represented perhaps the best chance for the former Arkansas governor to break through with a win and reshape the Republican presidential race.

His rise has been fueled by evangelical and religious conservatives who constitute a sizable bloc in Iowa.

He will face tougher going in the next contest on Tuesday in New Hampshire, where there are fewer evangelicals, and he has lingered well behind Romney and Arizona Sen. John McCain in polls.

The loss for Clinton, who a few months ago was considered in some quarters the almost certain Democratic nominee, put immense pressure on her to turn around her campaign in New Hampshire.

The 2008 campaign is the most open presidential race in more than 50 years, with no sitting president or vice president seeking their party's nomination.