Politics Afternoon Edition: Winners and losers from Election 2012

Politics Afternoon Edition from The Washington Post

Did you miss something on the campaign trail today?

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

HEADLINES

THE FIX: Winners and losers from Election 2012

Besides Obama, there were plenty of other bests -- and worsts -- from election night.
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After Obama's win, tax battle looms

Strong electoral victory belies deep divide among Americans as stark fiscal challenges loom.
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GOP faces increasingly murky future

Without a makeover, a party that skews toward older, white and male voters faces political peril.
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Big spending yields little result for GOP

Donors funneled nearly $1 billion into super PACs, yet failed to achieve main goal — to unseat Obama.
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SHE THE PEOPLE: Women make historic gains in Senate

For the first time in history, women will hold 20 seats in the U.S. Senate.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY

House Speaker John Boehner in a speech that offered a potential path to compromise in year-end budget negotiations, according to prepared remarks::

"For purposes of forging a bipartisan agreement that begins to solve the problem, we're willing to accept new revenue, under the right conditions."

Q&A DISCUSSIONS

Associate Editor of The Washington Post Robert G. Kaiser was online at 12:00 p.m. ET to discuss the presidential election:

Q: I'd be fascinated to be a fly on the wall for the conversations Karl Rove is having with some of his Crossroads PAC big donors, like Sheldon Adelson, right about now. Do you think that these billionaires might be a little less enthusiastic about getting out their checkbooks, in future elections, now that it's been proven that no, you can't actually buy the presidency quite so easily?

Robert G. Kaiser:

Me too! How is Mr. Adelson feeling today, I wonder. As soneone who has been following money in politics for years, and published a book about the subject in 2009, I was intrigued, as you were, by the failure of the Citizens United money to have an obvious impact this year. Which doesn't mean it was insignificant, by the way. Our politics have been transformed in this cycle; the amount of money now being raised and spent is dizzying. And the possibilities for corruption now are mind-bending. But I agree with you; at least some of those who wrote fat checks this time must be wondering today why they did it. And a lot of men and women who were planning on becoming ambassadors need a Plan B today.

» View full Q&A session

MULTIMEDIA

Video: Obama's road to victory

Despite a still recovering economy, and deep skepticism about his policies, President Obama ran a successful reelection campaign against Mitt Romney, and took a decisive victory on election night.