Weigel

I've seen plenty of attention paid to the candidate who burned through millions of dollars to lose their elections -- Linda McMahon, Meg Whitman -- but not much paid to the Republicans who won with barely any money. Everybody knows that you need at least a million dollars to make a real run at a House seat. But the GOP wave brought in numerous GOP freshmen who were dramatically outspent by the Democratic incumbents.

Races the Republicans won flat-out:

- Minnesota-08 , where Chip Cravaack raised $284,043 to challenge Rep. Jim Oberstar's $1,554,214.

- Idaho-01 , where Raul Labrador raised $523,472 against Rep. Walt Minnick's $2,405,680.

 Still not called, but where the Republicans are leading:

- Texas-27 , where Randolph Farenthold raised $379,224 to challenge Rep. Solomon Ortiz's $894,035.

- Illinois-08 , where Joe Walsh raised $465,661 against Rep. Melissa Bean's $1,995,576.

- California-20 , where Andy Vidak raised $633,443 against Rep. Jim Costa's $1,518,214.

Obviously, things are different in wave years. But these races beg for more analysis -- how do you power through a victory in a sprawling district where, like Cravaack, you're outspent 11-2 by the incumbent?