Scorecard They Also Serve

Who was this election's hottest political consultant? Who can lay claim to being the James Carville of the mid-1990s? Analyst Kevin Phillips, author of Arrogant Capital: Washington, Wall Street, and the Frustration of American Politics, cautions that given the lopsided nature of the returns, "this election is not one in which you could grade Democratic and Republican consultants." Right, and winning isn't everything. Here's a look at the Senate and gubernatorial records of some prominent sharpies-for-hire:

CONSULTING FIRM

Carville & Begala

Batting Average

.500

WINNERS

Zell Miller, Gov. GA

LOSERS

Harris Wofford, Sen. PA

CONSULTING FIRM

Doak, Shrum, Harris, Carrier, Devine

Batting Average

.666

WINNERS

Paul Sarbanes, Sen. MD

Edward Kennedy,Sen. MA

Charles Robb, Sen. VA

Herbert Kohl, Sen. WI

LOSERS

Larry EchoHawk, Gov. ID

Joel Hyatt, Sen. OH

CONSULTING FIRM

Grunwald, Eskew & Donilon

Batting Average

.625

WINNERS

Roy Romer, Gov. CO

Joe Lieberman, Sen. CT

Zell Miller, Gov. GA

Frank Lautenberg, Sen. NJ

Daniel Moynihan, Sen. NY

LOSERS

Bob Carr, Sen. MI

Harris Wofford, Sen. PA

Jim Sasser, Sen. TN

CONSULTING FIRM

Squier, Knapp & Ochs Communications

Batting Average

.400

WINNERS

Richard Bryan, Sen. NV

Robert Byrd, Sen. WV

LOSERS

James Folsom Jr., Gov. AL

Jack Mudd, Sen. MT

Ann Richards, Gov. TX

CONSULTING FIRM

Greg Stevens & Co. (former company of Roger Ailes)

Batting Average

.833

WINNERS

John Rowland, Gov. CT

Rodney Grams, Sen. MN

George Voinovich, Gov. OH

Mike DeWine, Sen. OH

Lincoln Almond, Gov. RI

LOSERS

Mitt Romney, Sen. MA

CONSULTING FIRM

Murphy Pintak Gautier Agency Inc.

Batting Average

.600

WINNERS

Terry Branstad, Gov. IA

John Engler, Gov. MI

Spencer Abraham, Sen. MI

LOSERS

Chuck Haytaian, Sen. NJ

Oliver North, Sen. VA

CONSULTING FIRM

National Media Inc.

Batting Average

.600

WINNERS

, Arne Carlson, Gov. MN

David Beasley, Gov. SC

Fred Thompson, Sen. TN

LOSERS

Jeb Bush, Gov. FL

Guy Millner, Gov. GA

CONSULTING FIRM

Sipple: Strategic Communications Inc.

Batting Average

1.000

WINNERS

Pete Wilson, Gov. CA

Jim Edgar, Gov. IL

John Ashcroft, Sen. MO

John Chafee, Sen. RI

George W. Bush, Gov. TX

LOSERS

Losers: (0)

CONSULTING FIRM

Smith & Harroff Inc.

Batting Average

.333

WINNERS

Fife Symington, Gov. AZ