Key players and their goals

High stakes and egos converged Thursday as Hillary Clinton testified at the latest hearing of the House Select Committee on Benghazi. Here's a glimpse at some of the key players and their motivations:

Hillary Clinton: Her goal was to maintain momentum and avoid pitfalls. The Democratic presidential front-runner firmly defended her record while seeking to avoid any mishap that might damage her presidential campaign. On Thursday, she never raised her voice as she had at a Senate hearing on Benghazi in January 2013, when she shouted: "What difference, at this point, does it make?" — a sound bite Republicans have campaigned off.

House Republicans: Prove the investigation's viability. It took just one comment from Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy — that this ninth investigation into the Sept. 2012 attacks has political aims — to throw into question the true purpose of this Benghazi investigation.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, committee head: Mind his bright political future. Some Republicans are clamoring for Gowdy to step into the running to be speaker. He was already a contender for the second-most powerful position, House majority leader, when McCarthy, R-Calif., briefly ran for speaker. Gowdy has said he's not interested, but clearly his future is bright. But first Gowdy has got to prove he can handle this investigation. And with Republican comments seemingly undermining his panel, things haven't gone his way lately; he recently told Politico "these have been among the worst weeks of my life." For Gowdy, Thursday was about getting everything back on track.

Half a dozen other Republicans: Keep climbing the ladder. Some of the six other Republicans who sit on the panel could be interested in leadership positions that, if recent history is any guide, could be available sooner than later. They include House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio; Mike Pompeo of Kansas, who has flirted with running for speaker, and Peter Roskam of Illinois, who has served as chief deputy whip. These members were not chosen for the committee because they are backbenchers. Many of them have significant heft.

Rep. Elijah Cummings: Keep his Senate options open. Cummings, D-Md., has ample experience in confronting heated Republican investigations. He's both the ranking member on this Benghazi investigation and on the often-very-political House Oversight and Government Reform Committee (remember Cecile Richards' recent testimony there on Planned Parenthood?) Cummings is well-respected in Democratic circles, and he also happens to be contemplating a Senate run for the open seat in Maryland. (Longtime Democratic Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski is retiring). A new Washington Post poll suggests Cummings would instantly be the front-runner in that crowded primary.

Washington Post