East Antrim: Described by Mr Gerry Adams earlier this week as "the most failed politician" in Northern Ireland, Mr Sammy Wilson looked all over the winner yesterday.
Elected on the first count to East Antrim, he confidently predicted he would bring in his two DUP running mates, most likely at the expense of the SDLP or Alliance.
"You can never take any election for granted. But I am more than pleased. We must be well within the third seat," said Mr Wilson, who lost a Westminster seat in 2001 by just 128 votes.
The victor on that occasion, the UUP's Mr Roy Beggs, topped yesterday's poll, and the Trimble loyalist hadn't given up hope of halting the DUP's gallop when the transfers are counted.
In a constituency which saw only 768 first preferences for Sinn Féin, the unionist parties were always going dominate. As counting closed yesterday, it looked like a three-way contest for the final two seats was looming between the UUP's Mr Ken Robinson, Mr Seán Neeson of the Alliance Party and the SDLP's Danny O'Connor.
The latter, a widely-admired politician, sneaked in five years ago by just 49 votes.