Political winners and losers of 2008

Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, January 1, 2009

(12-31) 15:19 PST -- The past year of political news will long be remembered for its characters, dramas and the revolutionary changes it ushered. But given the culture's constant tumult - and the 24-hour news cycle that needs to be fed - 2009 could bring changing fortunes for 2008's political winners and losers.

The winners

Barack Obama: The first African American elected president ran a nearly flawless campaign, turned out new constituencies, reshaped the political map and revolutionized campaigning. His reward: two wars, a foundering economy, growing unemployment, record home foreclosures and a short window to produce change before the 2010 midterm election campaigns start.

Community organizers: They were ridiculed at the GOP convention, but Obama won because his campaigners knew how to meld old-school grassroots organizing with online organizing and fundraising tools like Facebook and other new media technology. Their next challenge: keeping the coalition together to support Obama through his presidency.