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'Maverick' McCain Now Most Conservative Senator

He's tied for first in National Journal's rankings

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 24, 2011 5:26 PM CST

(Newser) – John McCain's reputation as a maverick Republican willing to cross party lines has been slipping for a while, and this will all but kill it: He's been officially crowned the most conservative senator by the National Journal. (His 89.7 vote rating actually ties him with seven others: Jim DeMint, Mike Crapo, Saxby Chambliss, John Cornyn, John Thune, Jim Risch, and John Barrasso.)

By comparison, McCain ranked in the mid-40s from 2002 to 2006, the year he launched his presidential campaign. His races against Barack Obama and JD Hayworth are generally seen as the main causes for his move to the right. At Salon, Steve Kornacki thinks personal grudges also explain some of his ideological shifts. Click for that analysis.

U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (C), speaks at the U.S. Capitol, on February 8, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

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'Maverick' McCain Now Most Conservative Senator

He's tied for first in National Journal's rankings

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More Newser Stories

Forget the Maverick: Meet the 'Real McCain'

He's not a reformer so much as a 'ruthless and self-centered survivor'

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Disavowing 'maverick' rep like Giuliani pleading 9./11 ignorance

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Graham calls Arizona senator 'de facto leader of the Republican Party'

Sen. Boxer: Don't Call Me 'Ma'am'

McCain spoofs scolding

Maverick McCain Back in Action

But for some Republicans, Mac's just a pain

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