NEW YORK (AP) ? Hundreds of congressional candidates across the country are gearing up to run against incumbents in races they have little chance of winning.

Theyre more than underdogs ? theyre sacrificial lambs.

Among them are a Democratic hot dog vendor from Texas, and a piano tuner from the Bronx whos trying to unseat a Democratic congressman whos taken 90-plus percent of the vote for years.

The Center for Responsive Politics says that more than eight in 10 incumbents have been re-elected every cycle since 1964.

But both parties want a candidate on the ballot whenever possible.

An unforeseen circumstance ? a scandal or an indictment, for example ? could turn that sacrificial lamb into a surprise winner.

By Terra/AP