Political Winners and Losers in the Health Care Debate—PICTURES

By National Journal Staff

Updated: March 29, 2012 | 4:49 p.m.
March 29, 2012 | 4:37 p.m.

The Supreme Court is expected to announce its ruling on the Affordable Care Act of 2010 in June, but the political ramifications are already detectable. As Sean Sullivan writes, here's a look at the candidates with a political stake in the ruling:

Winner: Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) is running for governor, and no other political figure, short of President Obama himself, owes as much of his reputation to the law as Cuccinelli: He was one of the first to challenge it.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Steve Helber

Winner: Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning is a front-runner to succeed Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and the case comes at a perfect time for him to burnish his conservative credentials as he faces attacks from the right in the Cornhusker State. Bruning was among the 13 attorneys general to file suit against the law on the day it was signed.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Nati Harnik

Possible Loser: Rob McKenna, state attorney general and Republican candidate for governor in Washington, opposed the law and faces attacks from Democrats who say he's out of touch with Washingtonians.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Possible Loser: Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock is the near-certain Democratic nominee in the toss-up race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer. Bullock, campaigning in conservative Montana, doesn't need the state's residents reminded that he sided with Obama on the health care law.

PHOTO: AP Photo/Matthew Brown

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