WASHINGTON -- Who's the most conservative senator in Congress?
According to one new ranking, Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss is at the top of the list.
Georgia's senior senator tied for 1st place -- along with seven others -- in a Top 10 list of the most conservative senators compiled by National Journal, a political newspaper and Web site.
The publication noted Chambliss's "big jump" among the ranks of conservatives in Congress, moving up from No. 20 on its "most conservative" rankings in 2009. The rankings are based primarily on voting records on specific issues.
Congressional records show that Chambliss votes with fellow Republicans 100 percent of the time. The American Conservative Union also ranks Chambliss highly, giving him a perfect 100 score last year. The conservative public policy group gave junior Sen. Johnny Isakson a 91 last year.
Among those tying with Chambliss as the Senate's No. 1 conservative was Arizona Sen. John McCain, who in the 2008 presidential election campaigned on his "maverick" voting credentials and his history of working across party lines. National Journal noted that between 2002-2006, McCain ranked no higher than No. 44 among the most conservative senators.
Others tied for first in National Journal's most conservative senators ranking: Republican Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina; John Barrasso of Wyoming; John Cornyn of Texas; Mike Crapo of Idaho; James Risch of Idaho and John Thune of South Dakota. Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Roger Wicker of Mississippi ranked 9 and 10, respectively.
Somewhat surprisingly, none of Georgia's eight House Republicans made a separate National Journal list of most conservative House members.
The publication is scheduled to release its full list of most conservative -- and most liberal -- members of Congress on Friday.
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