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Primary Winners and Losers— Beyond Barack and Hillary

Big gambles led to big payoffs, losses

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 12, 2008 12:30 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Barack Obama may be the big winner, but loads of other political fortunes hung in the balance this primary season. Politico breaks down the winners and losers.

Winners:

  • Claire McCaskill: Got tons of air-time and used it brilliantly for Obama
  • Nancy Pelosi: Pulled off a nifty trick by remaining neutral, but leaving breadcrumbs leading to Obama 
  • Ted Kennedy: Critical endorsement legitimized Obama
  • Ed Rendell: Clinton lost, but Rendell delivered Pennsylvania and stayed on message

Losers

  • Evan Bayh: Clinton’s oh-so-narrow Indiana victory diminishes his aura
  • Daniel Inouye: The Hawaii senator bet against a  favorite son—and lost, too 
  • Anibal Acevedo: Had to step down as Obama’s co-chair when he was arrested for fraud. Oh, and there was the Clinton landslide in Puerto Rico
  • Mike Easley: Didn’t deliver any votes for Clinton, and grabbed attention for his “pansy” gaffe

Barack Obama, Edward Kennedy, and Claire McCaskill listen to President Bush's State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, Monday Jan. 28, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Barack Obama, Edward Kennedy, and Claire McCaskill listen to President Bush's State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress, Monday Jan. 28, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.   (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Claire McCaskill speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. McCaskill came out a big winner in the primary.
Claire McCaskill speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007. McCaskill came out a big winner in the primary.   (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
Gov. Ed Rendell pauses while delivering remarks in Philadelphia in this file photo. Rendell's candidate may not have won, but let's call him a winner anyways; he delivered Pa. and stayed on message.
Gov. Ed Rendell pauses while delivering remarks in Philadelphia in this file photo. Rendell's candidate may not have won, but let's call him a winner anyways; he delivered Pa. and stayed on message.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Nancy Pelosi • primary • Ed Rendell • Claire McCaskill • Mike Easley • Democratic presidential primaries • Daniel Inouye • political endorsement • surrogates • Anibal Acevedo Vila

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