Winner of the week: Bill Nelson. Florida’s senior senator has been all over the oil catastrophe, pushing both BP and the White House to release underwater video and images and insisting the Interior Department end its “incestuous relationship” with the oil industry and act more like regulators.

Loser of the week:Kendrick Meek. Let’s get this straight: You sought millions of dollars for a developer later charged with fraud, and you had no idea he had bought your mom a car, paid her $90,000 for consulting, and spent $13,000 to help your chief staff of buy a house. Really, that’s your story? Next time your mom shows up with a shiny new Cadillac Escalade, you might want to inquire where she got it. At least he won the full AFL-CIO recommendation, but who'd have thought he'd have to fight for it.