Jonah: Good point. If you take a look at the runners-up, it tends to bear out your observation. Tom Coburn — another believer — gave Thune a close contest. Among Republicans, Joe Lieberman was highly admired, no doubt because of his convictions and particularly his refusal to abide by party dogmas. The high-performing also-rans for Democrats included Harry Reid and the late Ted Kennedy, a pair of powerful doers.