This year he played a critical role in condemning the government after the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a subsequent crackdown on opposition supporters.

VOA: standard.2009.12.22

However it was the Communists' subsequent failure to secure election of their presidential candidate that prompted a new election in July which brought the pro-western coalition to power.

VOA: standard.2009.08.29

Gladstone split his then- dominant party on the issue and was trounced in the subsequent election.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

Of course, new media such as the Internet, social media, and SMS advertising also stand to make huge gains in this cycle as they become entrenched media for political advertising based on their highly effective use by Obama in the 2008 election and subsequent evidence of an ability to engage in effective targeting.

FORBES: Five Reasons Why 2012 Will Be A Banner Year For Political Advertising

Only one of the six state representatives in question won the party's endorsement at the subsequent election, and only two ended up keeping their seats.

ECONOMIST: A state government runs out of money. Will the Feds be next?