2008 Democratic Presidential Wannabes

The following chart shows the composite liberal scores, based on National Journals annual
vote ratings, of the Democratic members of Congress who are running for president in 2008.
NJ began compiling the ratings in 1981.

SENATE
Barack
Obama
Ill.
(First elected
2004)

82.5
86.0

1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Lifetime
Average
Composite 84.3
Liberal
Score

HOUSE

Christopher
Dodd
Conn.
(First elected
1980)
88.8
88.5
89.8
85.8
83.8
78.7
69.8
79.2
79.7
76.0
61.5
60.7
72.8
80.8
80.2
79.8
75.5
80.8
79.5
85.8
81.5
80.8
75.7
78.8
79.7
84.0

Hillary
Rodham Clinton
N.Y.
(First elected
2000)

76.3
86.7
88.8
71.0
79.8
70.2

Joseph
Biden
Del.
(First elected
1972)
79.0
75.8
78.3
70.7
77.7
85.8
82.7
*
69.7
80.8
87.2
91.2
67.8
78.2
65.2
70.3
60.8
69.7
78.7
76.7
87.3
75.3
75.3
78.7
80.2
77.5

Dennis
Kucinich
Ohio
(First elected
1996)

74.3
63.0
68.0
69.2
81.8
84.5
80.3
92.5
93.7
87.0

79.2

78.8

76.8

79.4

*Biden did not receive scores that year because of missed votes.