Pennsylvania Primary: Winners and Losers

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza
Pa. Primary: Winners and Losers

....As always, these picks are selective and meant to be a conversation starter....

WINNERS

White Women: Clinton's most reliable constituency throughout the nomination fight delivered for her again in Pennsylvania....

Ed Rendell: Say what you will about the governor of Pennsylvania -- and, believe us, we've heard it all -- he delivered for Clinton yesterday....

The bin-Laden Ad: Decried by many Democrats as over the top, Clinton's ad featuring the world's most famous terrorist is likely to be given credit in the after-action analysis for swaying undecided voters in the final days of the campaign. Much like in Ohio and Texas, the Pennsylvania exit polls suggested that Clinton won late deciders overwhelmingly; among the 11 percent who made up their mind on primary day, Clinton bested Obama 59 percent to 41 percent, while among those who made up their mind in the final three days, Clinton won 58 percent to 42 percent. Does all of that late movement have do to the bin-Laden ad? No. But, it was surely a factor.

Guns/Religion Voters: The focus of a huge amount of attention following Obama's comments at a San Francisco fundraiser a few weeks ago, these cultural conservative voters made sure their voice was heard on Tuesday....

Political Junkies: Make no mistake: We are witnessing an election for the ages....

Evan Bayh: The Indiana senator now gets the vice presidential tryout he has always wanted....

LOSERS

Money: One of the most fascinating storylines in this campaign -- Democratic and Republican -- is that the best funded candidate doesn't always win. Sen. John McCain's (Ariz.) come from behind victory in the Republican race was fueled more by the Arizona senator's life story and personal appeal than by any fundraising edge. Similarly, Obama badly outspent Clinton in both Ohio and Pennsylvania only to lose both by double digits. Money is important but, at least at the presidential level, clearly not determinative.

Negativity: The sniping over flag lapel pins, the Weather Underground and other controversies in the final days of the campaign clearly turned many voters off. More than seven in ten voters thought that Clinton had attacked Obama "unfairly," while 50 percent said the same of Obama. Interestingly, the 44 percent of voters who said each candidate attacked the other unfairly gave Clinton 65 percent and Obama 35 percent; those who said neither candidate attacked the other unfairly gave Clinton an even wider margin -- she won them 70 percent to 30 percent.

House Republicans: Lost amid the focus on the Pennsylvania race was the fact that a Democrat in Mississippi's 1st District nearly claimed a rock-ribbed Republican seat last night....

The Economy: President Bush asserts that the country is not in a recession but Democrats in Pennsylvania made clear they disagree....

John Edwards: It seems as though the former North Carolina senator is genuinely conflicted about whether to back Clinton or Obama. With his home state set to matter in the nominating fight, Edwards will come under considerable pressure to make a decision before May 6. Will he? And does it matter?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/04/pennsylvania_primary_winners_a.html

Also, this is the 2nd article I've seen today proclaiming John Edwards a loser. Doesn't being a critical vote and a critical vote swayer in an critical state make his support even more important? I'd say his stock is rising.


:shrug: