If he weren't so out of touch with his constituents on the war in Iraq, there wouldn't be a strong primary challenge and we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Guess that's why Hagel and Graham are always being challenged by hard core conservative republicans... oh wait... it's an interesting contrast between the dysfunctional Democrats and the more practical republicans.
A Senator should be a strong voice for their state, that does not mean being an "ideological fit" look at Hagel, Santorum (at one time), Feingold, Harkin etc... if extreemists in both parties want to erode the independence that has characterised US Senators in the past and replace them with politically tribal automata then it will be a great loss, sadly both parties seem to be heading that way, and sooner or later, come election time, folks will realise they can do better that opting for the candidate from one extreem or the other...
