Comments: Someone, Anyone?
National Journal uses votes on 32 "economic issues," 15 "social issues," and 15 "foreign policy issues." It is a pretty broad list of votes. Unfortunately National Journal hasn't published all of their data on this yet (they should later this year) but I have some theories about why Kerry ranks as the most liberal Senator, and why Edwards ranks as number two (tied with two others).
Both Edwards and Kerry missed a ton of votes during 2003. My guess, without the data to back it up, is that many of the votes they made a point of coming back for were the most partisan votes, and not the issues that they would consider crossing over on. Votes such as judicial confirmations and the Medicare vote.
Otherwise, on the Senate side, the split looks about right. Zell Miller ranks as the most conservative of those with a D next to their names with a 28 score (Chambliss at 26), but the most conservative real Democrat is Ben Nelson of Nebraska at 51. Only two Rs rank as more liberal, Lincoln Chafee and Susan Collins.
Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you have any other questions about the list or the article.
Posted by QuackerBacker at March 1, 2004 07:08 PM
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