Well, we’ve made it through another strange political year — and let's face it, they are all strange — so it’s time for me to devote another column to picking the best, the worst and the weirdest candidates, campaigns and outcomes of the year. As always, I will select a few nominees and offer my own winner. If you don’t agree, feel free to send an email complaining to someone else. Just not me. Biggest Surprise of 2014 The nominees: Dave Brat over Rep. Eric Cantor in Virginia's 7th District GOP primary Maine Gov. Paul R. LePage re-elected The University of Connecticut men win the 2014 basketball national championship by defeating Iowa State, Louisville and Kentucky. Sen. Thad Cochran over Chris McDaniel in Mississippi's GOP Senate primary Larry Hogan Jr. over Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown for Maryland governor My winner: UCONN, obviously. The Worst Campaign of 2014 The nominees: Martha Robertson , D-N.Y. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. Ed FitzGerald, D-Ohio Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo. Sen. John Walsh, D-Mont. My winner: Udall. Most Overrated The nominees: Almost every Democrat running in Arkansas Terri Lynn Land, R-Mich. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa Stuart Rothenberg, Rothenberg Political Report Alison Lundergan Grimes, D-Ky. Boston Red Sox Ann E. Callis, D-Ill. My winner: All deserving nominees, so it's a seven-way tie. Underrated for Too Long The nominees: Joni Ernst, R-Iowa Seth Moulton, D-Mass. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. Rep. Michael G. Grimm, R-N.Y. Brad Ashford, D-Neb. My winner: Moulton, but I still can’t believe Grimm won comfortably. Most “Memorable” Candidate Interview of the Cycle The nominees: Lee Bright , R-S.C. Annette Bosworth, R-S.D. Brad Hutto, D-S.C. Mead Treadwell , R-Alaska Gary Kiehne, R-Ariz. My winner: There were no winners among this group, which ranged from hopefuls who were angry and bitter, to possibly delusional and silly and out of touch. But they were all memorable, certainly, and even entertaining, in a bizarre way. (See our interviews from this cycle below.) www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_sEtMR4aiVeuHbqq4B5dD8t9W3CpfkIu Name I Misspelled or Mispronounced Most Often The nominees: Richard Tisei, R-Mass. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa Sen. Kay Hagen, er, Hagan, D-N.C. Roll Call Editor-in-Chief Christina Bellantoni Corey, damn it, Cory Gardiner, um, Gardner Joanie, I mean Joani, er, no, Joni Ernst My winner: It’s a three-way tie between Gardner, Hagan and Ernst. Worst Analysis of the Cycle The nominees: “Twitter can predict elections.” “Democrats have a 90 percent chance of holding the Senate.” “Thom Tillis can’t win.” “Scott Brown can win.” My winner: Anything involving Twitter. Isn’t It Time to Stop Running? The nominees: Martha Coakley, D-Mass. Tony Strickland , R-Calif. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb. Robert Griffin III Charlie Crist, R/I/D-Fla. My winner: Yes, all of them. Best Candidate of the Cycle The nominees: Jeff Gorell , R-Calif. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo. Gwen Graham, D-Fla. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. My winner: All quality candidates, but I’m picking Gardner. Most Likely to be Sued, Indicted or Incarcerated Before Next Election Day The nominees: Rep. Michael G. Grimm, R-N.Y. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn. President Barack Obama Stuart Rothenberg My winner: I assert my constitutional right against self-incrimination. Related: Meet 3 Divergent House Candidates Worth Watching Republican Senate Hopefuls Vary in Quality, Approach Not Your Typical Southern Democrat in South Carolina The Most Divided House District in New York Awards for the Best and Worst of Politics of 2013 2012's Best and Worst, Part 1 2012's Best and Worst, Part 2 2011 Archives: Best and Worst What Did — and Didn’t — Surprise Me This Cycle Roll Call Results Map: Results and District Profiles for Every Seat Be the first to know about Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call race rating changes with our new Roll Call politics app!
