Primary Winners and Losers— Beyond Barack and Hillary

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