National Journal asks a high-school yearbookish question of D.C. insiders: Which senators do you most admire? The answers are unexpected. For Republicans, it’s John Thune of South Dakota. For Dems, it’s Dick Durbin of Illinois.
On Thune:
Republican Sen. John Thune, the lanky, 48-year-old “giant killer” who defeated Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle in 2004, is a household name back in South Dakota but is little known nationally. Although Thune holds the No. 4 post in the GOP leadership as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, he travels home most weekends and rarely appears on the major TV news programs. His anonymity frees him to jog through Washington virtually unnoticed most mornings.
Many Republican Insiders say they see in Thune the qualities that could one day shape a new era of GOP governance: charismatic conservatism grounded in core principles and sensible policies that don’t come off as knee-jerk or obstructionist.
On Durbin:
On the Democratic side, Insiders most admire the No. 2 Democrat within the leadership, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois, because of what they see as his effectiveness as Majority Leader Harry Reid’s right hand. The Senate’s importance to President Obama’s policy agenda has showcased Durbin’s communications skills and expanded appreciation for his fortitude in helping Reid corral 60 senators on key votes. With Reid facing a tough fight for re-election next year, Durbin is getting new scrutiny from Insiders as a potential majority leader in 2011.