Kerry Wins Iowa Caucus in 11th Hour Surge.

DES MOINES, Iowa - John Kerry rode an 11th-hour surge to victory in Iowa’s kickoff presidential caucuses, upsetting Democratic front-runner Howard Dean and stunning caucus favorite Dick Gephardt. Kerry’s comeback blew the nomination fight wide open, setting the stage for a free-for-all in New Hampshire’s follow-up primary.

Gephardt scrapped plans to fly to New Hampshire for next week’s primary after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, a source said Monday night, possibly signaling the end of his presidential campaign.

“I want to thank Iowa for making me the Comeback Kerry,” Kerry said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Two weeks ago, Dean and Gephardt were the co-favorites, but Monday night the former Vermont governor was stuck in third. He pledged to plow ahead, saying, “on to New Hampshire.” Gephardt, winner of the 1988 caucuses, was falling far short of the victory he needed to keep his political career alive.

Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was in second. “It feels terrific,” Edwards said as he awaited the final results at a downtown hotel. “What’s happened here the last two weeks with my campaign has been phenomenal.”