1. Sen. Teddy Kennedy (D.-Mass.)
Age: 73
Eighth term. Won 73% of vote in ’00. Seat up in ’06.
ACU rating: 3%
Liberal Credentials: The iconic liberal has served 42 years in the Senate, compiling a record as a pro-abortion, anti-war ideologue. But Kennedy might be best remembered for his role at Chappaquiddick.
2. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.-N.Y.)
Age: 54
Second term. Won 71% of vote in ’04. Seat up in ’10.
ACU rating: 6%
Liberal Credentials: The chief obstructionist to the President’s judicial nominees, he’s aggressively pro-abortion and anti-2nd Amendment rights. Schumer oversees Senate Democrats’ fundraising arm.
3. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D.-N.Y.)
Age: 57
First term. Won 55% of vote in ’00. Seat up in ’06.
ACU rating: 9%
Liberal Credentials: As 2008 nears, she has tried to remake herself as a moderate. She voted for the Iraq War, but is a solid supporter of nationalized healthcare and abortion-on-demand.
4. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D.-Calif.)
Age: 64
Third term. Won 58% of vote in ’04. Seat up in ’10.
ACU rating: 2%
Liberal Credentials: Highly partisan, she formally protested Ohio’s electoral vote in ’04. She backs abortion, gun control and opposes the Iraq War, and was a harsh critic during Clarence Thomas’s hearing.
5. Sen. Dick Durbin (D.-Ill.)
Age: 61
Second term. Won 60% of vote in ’02. Seat up in ’08.
ACU rating: 7%
Liberal Credentials: He’s failed to do much damage during his brief tenure as Democratic whip. Once an abortion critic, he now supports it. He compared U.S. anti-terror interrogators to Nazis.
6. Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.)
Age: 61
Fourth term. Won 81% of vote in ’02. Seat up in ’08.
ACU rating: 5%
Liberal Credentials: After flip-flopping his way to presidential defeat in ’04, Kerry might try again in ’08. He’s a reliable liberal vote—except when trying to appease voters outside Massachusetts.
7. Sen. Harry Reid (D.-Nev.)
Age: 65
Fourth term. Won 61% of vote in ’04. Seat up in ’10.
ACU rating: 21%
Liberal Credentials: He shed his moderate image to be Democratic leader. As whip, he organized Democrats’ filibuster of 10 conservative judicial nominees. Suggested Harriet Miers to President Bush.
8. Sen. Jon Corzine (D.-N.J.)
Age: 58
First term. Won 50% of vote in ’00. Seat up in ’06.
ACU rating: 5%
Liberal Credentials: He won’t be a senator for long, as he’s running for New Jersey governor. The millionaire bought his seat, then promoted universal health care, abortion rights and gun control.
9. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D.-Calif.)
Age: 72
Third term. Won 56% of vote in ’00. Seat up in ’06.
ACU rating: 11%
Liberal Credentials: She was the leading proponent of the so-called assault weapons ban of ’94. As the sole woman on the Judiciary Committee, she says it’s her duty to oppose pro-life nominees.
10. Sen. Chris Dodd (D.-Conn.)
Age: 61
Fifth term. Won 66% of vote in ’04. Seat up in ’10.
ACU rating: 8%
Liberal Credentials: A former defender of the Sandinistas, now an advocate of lifting the Cuba trade embargo, Dodd was one of John Bolton’s opponents for that reason. He lost a bid for Democratic leader in ’94.
