In the Fallout Shelter: Bush, Chafee, Clinton

The biggest losers from Tuesday's primary voting are obvious. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) is vowing to keep his job, but he'll have to do it as an independent after getting beat by antiwar challenger Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, Reps. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) and John J.H. "Joe" Schwarz (R-Mich.) were the first incumbents to lose their jobs this campaign season, though political analysts say they could have plenty of company come November.

Beyond the headlines, there was a long roster of other players Tuesday who either came out ahead or came up short.

THE WINNERS

· Club for Growth: The fiscally conservative group strongly backed former state representative Tim Walberg, who ousted the more moderate Schwarz. The group also backed state Rep. Doug Lamborn, the primary winner in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Joel Hefley (R) in Colorado's 5th District. The next big hurdle for the Club comes next month in Rhode Island, where it has endorsed Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey (R) in his race against Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee (R).

· Al Gore: Connecticut Senate challenger Ned Lamont rode a wave of antiwar sentiment to defeat Lieberman. The 2008 candidate best positioned to take advantage of that unrest is the man who introduces himself as the guy who "used to be the next president of the United States." The 2000 Democratic nominee has insisted he has no interest in running again, but if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), who voted in 2002 to authorize the Iraq war, runs for president and is not effectively challenged by other candidates, Gore may be compelled to jump into the contest to offer Democrats a pure antiwar alternative.

· The "Net roots": Say what you will about this group of online activists (and we have already heard plenty), but they deserve credit for highlighting Lamont's candidacy and helping to bring national attention to the race. The Net roots didn't win this race for Lamont -- most analysts say his deep pockets, coupled with Lieberman's slow reactions and the national environment made the difference -- but they bolstered his candidacy at the start and drove chatter about the race throughout.