UPDATE: RACIST REPUBLICAN GETS HIS BUTT KICKED

Democrat Travis Childers scored an upset victory on Tuesday in a special Congressional election in a conservative Southern district in Mississippi, sending a clear signal of national problems ahead for Republicans in the fall.

The mainly rural seat stretches across the northern top of the state and has been considered one of the safest Republican seats in the land. It had been in Republican hands since 1995. They won the seat with 62 percent of the vote in 2004.

Republicans worked desperately to win this contest. Gov. Huckabee, John McCain and Dick Cheney were all recruited to assist the local candidate. The Republicans lost a similar Congressional race earlier this month in Louisiana.

The Democrats have been meeting with success in running conservative candidates in these traditionally Republican strong holds. The New York Times features an insightful look at what the upset win means for Southern Politics and this fall's election.