Friday, July 16, 2004

How Liberal are Kerry and Edwards

Conservative talk-show hosts and media pundits have been repeating the urban legend that John Kerry and John Edwards are the most and fourth-most liberal Senators. They even cite the National Journal. The ranking, however, is based on one-year (2004) of Senate votes, when both were on the campaing trail and missed many votes.

Looked at over the last-six years, the Demoratic candidates are liberals, but far from being the most liberal members of the Senate.


2003: Kerry - 1st (96.5) Edwards - 4th (94.5)
2002: Kerry - 9th (87.3) Edwards - 31st (63.0)
2001: Kerry - 11th (87.7) Edwards - 35th (68.2)
2000: Kerry - 20th (77) Edwards - 19th (80.8)
1999: Kerry - 16th (80.8) Edwards - 31st (72.2)

Average: Kerry - 12th (85.9) Edwards - 24th (75.7)
source: Andrew Sullivan

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