This article is by Dan Hirschhorn in Philadelphia and Alex Roarty in Harrisburg

In politics, it's all about who's up and who's down. And between a historic presidential election, competitive down-ballot races and the corruption trial of a political icon, there was plenty of movement in Pennsylvania politics this year.

PolitickerPA.com looks back at the biggest winners and losers of 2008.

WINNERS

Tom Corbett: He was the only Republican to win a statewide race in November, and the attorney general's margin of victory surprised everyone, propelling him to clear front-runner status for the 2010 GOP gubernatorial nomination. Meanwhile, his first round of "Bonusgate" indictments won plaudits from most corners for its detail, although his failure to bring charges against Republicans before Nov. 4 had some Democrats crying partisanship.

Bob Casey: The junior United States Senator endorsed Barack Obama before most of his Pennsylvania peers, touring the state with him in the run-up to the state's April primary. Obama may have lost that month, but when he won the nomination, Casey emerged as one of Obama's primary surrogates in the Keystone State. Now, he has the ear of the President-elect.

Joe Scarnati: Senate Republicans, along with Corbett, are the lone bright spots for the Pennsylvania GOP. Scarnati led an effort that, depending on a pending special election in the 29th District, could see the GOP increase its already vast majority in the Senate despite a horrible year for Republicans across the country. His ascension to lieutenant governor, while tragic in its circumstances, also launched talk of a possible gubernatorial bid in 2010.

Larry Farnese: The young Philadelphia attorney emerged almost out of nowhere when indicted state Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia) announced he wouldn't seek re-election, managing to snatch a primary win from Fumo's political rival John Dougherty and capturing one of the state's most powerful Senate seats.

Mike Turzai: House Republicans might have lost two seats, but the head of their election efforts earned praise for minimizing the damage in a year that could have been much worse for them. Turzai's efforts helped land him the caucus' No. 2 position as minority whip.

Todd Eachus: Although House Democrats probably expected to gain more than two seats during a very favorable year, they will still have a much more comfortable majority heading in 2009 because of Eachus' efforts. The Luzerne County state representative was rewarded by the caucus and will become its next majority leader.

LOSERS

John Perzel: Re-election for the longtime Philly Republican state representative was easier than some expected, but his days as a Harrisburg powerbroker might be numbered after failing to unseat Sam Smith as minority leader. Questions over whether he hired Joe Carduff to conduct opposition research on fellow Republicans, including Smith and Turzai, and his reported involvement in Corbett's "Bonusgate" investigation will continue to hamper him.

Vince Fumo: Even if the longtime state senator is acquitted in the massive corruption trial that forced him not to seek re-election, the trial's steady drip of embarrassing information about his life, personal and political, will color public perception of his legacy for years to come.

Phil English: The only Pennsylvania Republican congressman to lose his seat in 2008, his future in politics might be over.

Lou Barletta: The Hazleton mayor might not have anywhere to go to continue his political career after narrowly losing to incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-Nanticoke) in a year when Kanjorski was supposed to be the most vulnerable Democrat in Congress.