Obama's Congressional Friends (and Foes)
This freshman has outsize influence with Obama, in part because she was the first female senator to throw her support to him. McCaskill, 55, who lost a 2004 bid for Missouri governor, had Obama's help in her Senate race in 2006. A moderate who supports gun-owner rights, she is not as liberal as Obama but has his ear.
McCaskill was in Chicago's Grant Park when Obama gave his victory speech, was at the wee-hours-of-the-morning White House party for his inner circle after the inauguration, and, as his 100-day mark neared, was invited to the Oval Office. She planned a "casual, candid conversation" giving "unvarnished input of strengths and weaknesses so far."
Obama has his fair share of both friends and foes in Congress. Do you agree with our list of Obama's key allies and reliable opponents?