Ms. Independent?

Sen. Claire McCaskill votes with her fellow Democratic Senators much less than most of her colleagues, according to an analysis of party unity votes by CQPolitics.com.

The report finds that while Democrats are more unified than Republicans during the first half of this Congress, McCaskill votes with her party about 76% of the time. That's the third lowest Democratic party unity score overall.

The two main issues that have set McCaskill apart from her Democratic colleagues: immigration and energy.

From the story:

"McCaskill, who ousted Republican incumbent Jim Talent, opposed the immigration overhaul legislation that the Senate recently scuttled. And last month, McCaskill was one of just four Democrats who voted against an overhaul of energy laws that called for increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020. McCaskill said the measure would hurt Missouri’s automotive and other manufacturing sectors."

McCaskill's press shop didn't waste anytime seizing this story.

"Since her swearing-in in January, McCaskill broke with the Democratic party on nearly one-fourth of partisan votes. When compared with her colleagues, she voted more independently than any other freshman senator, and was the third most independent among her Democratic colleagues," brags a McCaskill release.

“In the end, party loyalty isn’t my concern,” McCaskill said. “My votes are about keeping my promises, doing what is right for Missouri, and voting my conscience. I'm proud of my record that shows that I am independent and decide each issue on its merit, not on partisanship."