Which U.S. Senator is furthest ideologically from his/her state?

[nclib]

Obviously, last year the choice would have been Santorum.

This year I'd say Harkin, with the ND Senators close behind.

[Ebowed]

Bingaman is one of the most reliable social liberals in the Senate.

[Saxwsylvania]

I picked Sherrod Brown, who is absolutely awful.

I bet all the Democrats are going to pick Norm Coleman, in their attempts to "Santorumize" him.

[Raoul Takemoto]

I picked Harkin - Tester and Brown don't have an established voting record to pick through yet.

[Conan]

This list is inadequate. Martinez, Lieberman, Rockefeller, Sununu, Gregg, Casey, or Allard too should be considered.

[HardRCafé]

Likely Tester.

[Democratic Hawk]

Harkin seems rather liberal compared to Iowa as a whole but he seems to OK by his state, otherwise, I doubt they'd have re-elected him

As for Coleman in Minnesota, I'd like to think Minnesota just the made wrong call in 2002 and it won't happen again

Dave

[Conan]

Harkin seems rather liberal compared to Iowa as a whole but he seems to OK by his state, otherwise, I doubt they'd have re-elected him

As for Coleman in Minnesota, I'd like to think Minnesota just the made wrong call in 2002 and it won't happen again

Dave

That's true. He is one lucky man.

[Democratic Hawk]

Harkin seems rather liberal compared to Iowa as a whole but he seems to OK by his state, otherwise, I doubt they'd have re-elected him

As for Coleman in Minnesota, I'd like to think Minnesota just the made wrong call in 2002 and it won't happen again

Dave

That's true. He is one lucky man.

Coleman, indeed, is. From what I saw of him grilling George Galloway, the Saddamite ran rings round him , alas. He's nowt for Minnesota to boast about

Getting back to Harkin. It's his economic populism, not his social liberalism, that seems to resonate most in the state, otherwise I dare say he wouldn't have been re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2002. Either that or he's had some lousy Republican opponents.

Sherrod Brown could well prove to be of a smilar mold to Harkin in Ohio

Dave

[HardRCafé]

Harkin seems rather liberal compared to Iowa as a whole but he seems to OK by his state, otherwise, I doubt they'd have re-elected him

As for Coleman in Minnesota, I'd like to think Minnesota just the made wrong call in 2002 and it won't happen again

Harkin is the only participant in the Wellstone pep rally to benefit from it.

[opebo]

Sununu or Gregg (is there any difference?).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Sununu or Gregg (is there any difference?).

Sununu has a few libertarian leanings.

[Padfoot]

Harkin seems rather liberal compared to Iowa as a whole but he seems to OK by his state, otherwise, I doubt they'd have re-elected him

As for Coleman in Minnesota, I'd like to think Minnesota just the made wrong call in 2002 and it won't happen again

Dave

That's true. He is one lucky man.

Coleman, indeed, is. From what I saw of him grilling George Galloway, the Saddamite ran rings round him , alas. He's nowt for Minnesota to boast about

Getting back to Harkin. It's his economic populism, not his social liberalism, that seems to resonate most in the state, otherwise I dare say he wouldn't have been re-elected in 1990, 1996 and 2002. Either that or he's had some lousy Republican opponents.

Sherrod Brown could well prove to be of a smilar mold to Harkin in Ohio

Dave

If Brown actually sticks around.  He has said he won't seek re-election but you know how that goes <cough>Sen. Collins<cough>  However Bill Frist actually stuck to his claim so you never know.  I'm not sure why Brown would want to retire though seeing as he'd only be 60 in 2012.

[Smash255]

I would have to go off the list and pick Allard.  He is VERY conservative and from a moderate state.  he is generally low key so not thought of in the same league and Coburn, Inhofe, Demint, Santorum, but his voting record puts him right in there with them.

[Democratic Hawk]

If Brown actually sticks around.  He has said he won't seek re-election but you know how that goes <cough>Sen. Collins<cough>  However Bill Frist actually stuck to his claim so you never know.  I'm not sure why Brown would want to retire though seeing as he'd only be 60 in 2012.

I honestly don't see the point of any one running for and winning a Senate seat if they only intend to stick around for one term [shakes head]. Perhaps, something tells Brown that in a good year for the GOP, he'll be out on his arse. Still that would be depend on how wisely, or otherwise, he represents his state should he run again in 2012

Dave

[Rob]

Coleman.

Perhaps, something tells Brown that in a good year for the GOP, he'll be out on his arse.

Brown is a ferocious campaigner, and he'll be tough to dislodge as an incumbent. If the Republicans get their own "2006" in six years, he'd be in trouble; but he'd hold on. After all, what will they attack him on? Everyone in Ohio knew that he supported queer marriage, mandatory sodomy, live-birth abortions, Islamic terrorism, and so on... they voted for him anyway.

His economic positions are very popular in Ohio, and that will keep him in office.

[Democratic Hawk]

I would have to go off the list and pick Allard.  He is VERY conservative and from a moderate state.  he is generally low key so not thought of in the same league and Coburn, Inhofe, Demint, Santorum, but his voting record puts him right in there with them.

Aye, Allard's another one who doesn't fit his state well. Parts of it, yes, but by no means all of it. Still, Allards got some good company in Colorado if its House Republican delegation is anything to go by. All current Colorado Republicans in Congress are putrid

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Perhaps, something tells Brown that in a good year for the GOP, he'll be out on his arse.

Brown is a ferocious campaigner, and he'll be tough to dislodge as an incumbent. If the Republicans get their own "2006" in six years, he'd be in trouble; but he'd hold on. After all, what will they attack him on? Everyone in Ohio knew that he supported queer marriage, mandatory sodomy, live-birth abortions, Islamic terrorism, and so on... they voted for him anyway.

His economic positions are very popular in Ohio, and that will keep him in office.

I hope they do

Dave

[HardRCafé]

Brown is a ferocious campaigner,

So is Santorum.

[Cubby]

Other: John Sununu, Judd Gregg and Wayne Allard

Sununu and Gregg are the last conservative, pro-life, right wing Senators left in the Northeast. Since they are close to home, they annoy me more. What do you mean BRTD by "libertarian leanings"? I am glad they switched their minds on the Marriage Ban in 2006 though, unlike Allard they see the writing on the wall (NH trending left)

I don't think Norm Coleman is all bad. I know it was just a token gesture but it was very important to me when he opposed drilling in ANWR. Token or not, there are no oil rigs there now killing wolves and caribou. He only won because Jesse Ventura condemned the Dems for turning Wellstone's funeral into a rally. No one would have noticed if Ventura hadn't decided to help the Republicans.

Colorado is heading left, but Allard is going in the other direction. He's the next Santorum.

[jokerman]

I'll say Coleman.

Definitely not the ND duo.

[Rob]

Brown is a ferocious campaigner,

So is Santorum.

True. Note that Brown ran better than Santorum ever did, though; he won 56 percent against a two-term incumbent. Santorum got only 52 percent against an underfunded joke candidate in 2000 and won 49 percent in the year of Republican Revolution.

He's probably as partisan as Santorum, but his economic views put him closer to the mainstream of his state than Rick ever was.

[Conan]

Brown is a ferocious campaigner,

So is Santorum.

But Santorum represented the complete opposite of PA.

[Padfoot]

I don't think Norm Coleman is all bad. I know it was just a token gesture but it was very important to me when he opposed drilling in ANWR. Token or not, there are no oil rigs there now killing wolves and caribou.

Please explain to me how oil rigs kill caribou and wolves.   While I don't support drilling in ANWR I fail to see how this is possible.

[adam]

Brown.