A political icon went to trial. A new Philadelphia mayor was installed and lauded, only to see the financial crisis crimp his plans. For a few weeks, the Keystone State was the center of the political universe. And of course, there were indictments galore, and a new "-gate" suffix to go along with the taxpayer bonuses allegedly handed out like candy for campaign work.

Yes, 2008 was a busy year in Pennsylvania politics. As the calendar mercifully nears 2009, PolitickerPA.com looks back at the biggest stories of the last year. Don't agree with our order? Think we've missed something? Let us know by posting a comment, and keep the conversation going.

Log on next week for PolitickerPA.com's year-end list of the biggest political winners and losers.

10. Philly's ‘new day' gives way to ‘no money'

When former City Councilman Michael Nutter was sworn in as Philadelphia's mayor in January, the city was euphoric about the possibilities of a politician who promised to sweep aside the old ways of doing business and to make city government a jewel of accountability and transparency.

After the electorate had soured on John Street, Nutter's early days in office were the epitome of a political honeymoon, as voters flocked to City Hall just to shake his hand and his administration released an optimistic budget with something in it for everyone.

Then, the economy sank faster than anyone could have anticipated. Now, Nutter faces uproar over his plans to close libraries, pools and fire stations, and while he remains popular, some constituents are leveling charges of secrecy that eerily echo their complaints about Street.

For now, Nutter's "new day, new way" vision seems to be on hold, or at least scaled back, until the financial crisis passes.

9. Gaming headaches continue with the investigation of an insider

As if Pennsylvania's gaming law hadn't caused enough acrimony, regulators and lawmakers alike were knocked down another peg when one of the most politically-connected casino owners in the state was revealed to be the subject of a massive probe allegedly tying his Pocono-area slot parlor to organized crime.

With residents in Philadelphia still fighting slot parlors planned there, the indictment of Louis DeNaples caused problems for both the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and elected officials close to DeNaples, while continuing to provide ammunition to opponents of gaming in the Keystone State.

8. The passing of a lieutenant governor

Few figures were as revered as Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, and her death from cancer last month united the state's political establishment in mourning.

It also elevated one of Gov. Ed Rendell's biggest foes, state Senate president pro tempore Joseph Scarnati, to her position, creating an intriguing political dynamic for the closing two years of Rendell's administration.

"She was a tremendous leader for the commonwealth and embodied the type of character expected of true, effective public servants," Scarnati said of Knoll. "Her passion and commitment to bettering the lives of Pennsylvanians will be sorely missed, as it was certainly a staple of her public service."

7. Chris Matthews: The only Senate candidate anyone wants to talk about

Hey Chris, are you running? No, really, are you running?

Ever since MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews went from talking wistfully about a run for the U.S. Senate to telling people he was seriously considering it, he has been, by far, the favorite subject of speculation among political insiders.

Starting with his appearance at a breakfast for Pennsylvania delegates to the Democratic in Denver this summer, Matthews has been the elephant in every room, whether he's actually there (like in Denver) or not (like at the recent Pennsylvania Society weekend). The Hardball host has been mostly coy about his plans, even as analysts have taken his talk as license to start polling his potential matchup with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.).

Meanwhile, he's gone noticeably easy on Pennsylvania Democrats appearing on his show, from his fawning over Gov. Ed Rendell to his reluctance to even ask U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) about comments the 12th District lawmaker made about his constituents being ‘racist' days before the election.

With reports circulating that Matthews has found a house in Philadelphia and is meeting with Democratic leaders, some media watchdogs have been calling for him to get off the airwaves and focus on politics. Whatever happens, it seems likely that the guessing game will continue into the new year, and that Matthews will spend at least a little while longer as the guy everyone wants to talk about.

6. Kanjorski, Murtha survive big political scares

U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) was projected to lose his re-election bid by every pollster from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) was considered seriously vulnerable after calling voters in his district "racist" shortly before Election Day.

But in a year that saw Democrats makes gains up and down the ballot, both turned heads by withstanding fierce challenges from their Republican opponents.

5. The Keystone State gets bluer

It's been happening for over a decade, but it might finally be time to color Pennsylvania a darker blue on the political map. After making registration gains in the Philadelphia suburbs for years, the state Democratic Party saw its ranks swell in the weeks leading up the Democratic primary, a trend that continued through the fall.

Now, Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 1.2 million voters, more than double their edge from four years ago. The registration advantage has reshaped the dynamic of statewide races and potentially put the GOP in a defensive position for years to come.

"The exodus of Republicans from the rank-and-file is enormous," Muhlenberg College pollster and political science professor Chris Borick said.

4. Goodbye Vince Fumo, hello Larry Farnese

Perhaps no one has had a more long-lasting, influential role in state politics than Vince Fumo. The 30-year Democratic state Senator from Philadelphia was as much a political icon as he was a lawmaker, controlling the purse strings of Harrisburg for years, along with a slew of patronage jobs and a following back home that made his support key to winning any Philadelphia election.

But after being investigated by the FBI for years, Fumo this spring announced his intention not seek re-election, instead focusing on the massive corruption trial he now faces. His departure from Harrisburg and his powerful 1st District state Senate seat was the end of an era. But in a display his continuing influence, it was a Democratic challenger backed by Fumo, Larry Farnese, who upset the favored John Dougherty to take his seat.

3. Primary time means lots of attention

Remember the days when Pennsylvania wasn't supposed to even have a voice in the presidential primary process. Nominees were to have been largely cemented in February, long before the Keystone State's April primary. Gov. Ed Rendell even announced his endorsement of U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) before then, in the hopes of influencing primaries in Delaware and New Jersey.

But a fiercely contested and drawn-out Democratic primary between Clinton and now-President elect Barack Obama meant weeks of time in the spotlight for Pennsylvania-and its politicians.

That meant hours spent campaigning, from Rendell's seemingly countless TV appearances on behalf of Clinton to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey's (D-Pa.) cross-state bus tour on behalf of Obama. Clinton's near-double-digit win extended the primary battle to the bitter end.

And when all was said and done, even those who picked the wrong candidate saw their national profile surge-and those who picked right found themselves with the ear of the next president.

"This was the first time in most people's memory that we actually played a role in the primary," Muhlenberg College pollster and political science professor Chris Borick said.

2. Bonusgate. ‘Nuff said.

Nothing rocked the Capitol this year like Bonusgate, the still-growing scandal in which Democratic insiders are accused of funneling taxpayer-funded bonuses to employees in exchange for work on political campaigns. The indictments announced by Attorney General Tom Corbett turned the House Democratic Caucus upside-down, leading to the ouster of Majority Leader Bill DeWeese in the recent leadership fight and nearly costing the longtime lawmaker his seat in Harrisburg altogether.

Corbett is now reportedly looking at House Republicans, and Bonusgate promises to stretch well into 2009, and could even help vault Corbett to the governor's mansion.

"The scope and the intensity of the charges make it one of the more serious type of corruption charges that we've seen in recent memory," Muhlenberg College pollster and political analyst Chris Borick said. "Pennsylvania has a long history of corruption, but this has clearly earned its place on the list."

1. The end of Pennsylvania as a swing state?

John McCain's presidential campaign bet everything on the Keystone State, spending millions of dollars and hundreds hours here. He lost. By more than 10 percentage-points.

Perhaps that's because the GOP was relying on the concept that Pennsylvania is a swing state, an idea that today seems very dated. President-elect Barack Obama, helped in part by a growing Democratic registration edge, won the state by double-figures.

Since well before Election Day, analysts have been increasingly asking: Is Pennsylvania really a toss-up anymore?

While Republicans are unlikely to shade Pennsylvania as blue as New York or New Jersey, the growing consensus is that Democrats can count on the Keystone State's 21 electoral votes for years to come.

"I don't know if I'd say we're done as a swing state, but it sure doesn't seem like a place where, at the presidential level, Republicans should be putting a lot of effort now," Muhlenberg College pollster and political analyst Chris Borick said.