Which Senators Does McCaskill Admire?

Senator Jim Talent's campaign says if Claire McCaskill was to go to Washington she'd become a Senator in the mold of Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy.

More than particular policy points, those names are meant to ignite urgency and rally the Republican base, which despises what those two politicians embody.

But what kind of Senator would McCaskill really be when she got there? I decided to try and get an idea by asking her which Senators she admires.

"That's a really tough question," McCaskill began, noting that she admires different Senators for different reasons.

But credit McCaskill this much, she answered the question . . . maybe safely, but she didn't duck.

"I admire Senators who've been able to stay independent of their party," McCaskill said.

Good examples? Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter and South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson.

"Arlen Specter has been able to stay independent and hold government accountable appropriately. I certainly admire Tim Johnson for his independence and how he's fighting for the family farmer," McCaskill said.

"He's a great example of someone who understands you have to take care of the independent producer and family farmer instead of just big corporate agriculture," McCaskill said of Johnson.

But her main criteria for picking her favorite Senators is "those who are willing to kind of ignore what they are being told by their party and fight for what they believe in."

Not surprisingly, McCaskill took the opportunity to note that Sen. Talent has voted with President Bush 94% of the time.

"I will never vote with a President 94% of the time," McCaskill pledged.
Not even a Democratic President? "I can't imagine," McCaskill responded. "I've never voted with a Democratic Governor 94% of the time. I think Missourians know. I ran against the Governor of my own party. That takes a lot of independence."