The Senate began its fall legislative agenda yesterday, but six senators who want to be president have already missed many votes this year and are likely to miss many more, as they campaign across the country.
For any member of Congress aiming for the White House, a trade-off exists between time spent walking the campaign trail and time spent walking the halls of the Capitol. And Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware and Barack Obama of Illinois, along with Republicans Sam Brownback of Kansas and John McCain of Arizona, have all missed Senate votes this year.
Mr. McCain leads the pack of nonvoters, missing almost half the votes held in the 110th Congress — 150 of 311. Mr. Brownback has missed 40 percent, and Mr. Biden and Mr. Dodd have each missed about a quarter (25 percent and 24 percent, respectively).
But others may catch up. According to a June 27 Associated Press analysis, Mr. Obama had been absent for about 10 percent of the 110th Congress’ votes up to that time. By yesterday, the percentage had almost doubled to 19 percent — the key being that Mr. Obama missed 35 of the 48 July votes, only one fewer than Mr. Brownback.
Mrs. Clinton has been the most diligent voter — missing just 11 of the 311 recorded votes since January and four of the 48 in July. Every other candidate missed at least 12.
Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Mr. Reid’s office doesn’t have an official arrangement with the candidates, and Senate office employees are supposed to keep abreast of the Senate schedule.
“In the end, it’s up to them to decide,” Mr. Manley said of the White House seekers. “But Senator Reid believes that they are senators first and presidential candidates second.”
The Senate’s first vote back from summer break was a 69-24 vote last night to approve the nomination of former Rep. Jim Nussle to direct the Office of Management and Budget. Four presidential contenders were absent — Mr. Brownback, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain.
Mr. Brownback told The Washington Times yesterday — via phone from New Hampshire, where he was preparing for tonight’s debate — that he tries to be in Washington “as much as possible” during the heart of the workweek, or when a crucial vote is going to be close. But he said it’s “very difficult to balance” the two jobs.
“It’s both tough and frustrating because if you’re going to run for president, you’ve got to be out talking to people about the topics. And being in the House or Senate, you’ve got to be there voting on the topics,” he said.
When questioned in May about whether he would make an effort to show up for big votes this year, Mr. McCain told Congressional Quarterly: “I have assured the leadership I will do everything I can.”
A McCain spokeswoman added yesterday, “Senator McCain has made a policy not to miss votes where his vote would affect the outcome of the legislation.”
“Obviously, I’ll be back for crucial votes in the coming weeks,” Mr. Dodd told The Times recently. “Those that are not critical, I’ll be spending my time in Iowa, New Hampshire and elsewhere. My constituency knows that.”
c Christina Bellantoni contributed to this report.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.