Which Senators were first elected in races were initially safe R/D on paper

[dmmidmi]

Stabenow, and Schumer were initially considered unlikely to win, but I don't remember how unlikely (i.e. were any of them actually written-off for a good chunk of the campaign).

Spence Abraham was never considered particularly safe: http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/04/us/2000-campaign-michigan-race-battle-for-senate-themes-mirror-national-contest.html

D'Amato was never in particularly good shape, either: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_election_in_New_York,_1998#Polling_3

[dmmidmi]

Prior to the year 2004, wasn't Daschle considered untouchable in South Dakota?

Thune came within a few hundred votes of beating Tim Johnson two years prior.