Details about this story

• Source: Arizona Republic
• Date: September 20, 2007
• URL: Read the story
• Bylines: Ryan Konig , Mike Madden
• Topics: Politics , Congress
• Data Types: Federal Data
• Description/Excerpt: They're rivals for the White House now, but during eight years in the Senate together, Republican presidential hopefuls Fred Thompson and John McCain were close allies. An Arizona Republic analysis of Senate votes found that Thompson and McCain were on the same side in 83 percent of the approximately 2,500 roll-call votes taken from 1995 to 2003, when Thompson represented Tennessee. They have cast votes the same way on many hot-button issues in the 2008 GOP campaign so far, including authorization of the Iraq war and on immigration and border-security proposals. Both men trail former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in national polls of GOP voters. Still, Thompson has gotten a warmer reception than McCain from many conservative Republicans. And their similar voting history underscores what many analysts and activists say: McCain's campaign troubles have less to do with his record than his style.
• Database or Graphic: Go to site (html)