How Green is Your Presidential Candidate?

The League of Conservation Voters Environmental Scorecard provides objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered and the corresponding voting records of all members of Congress. It represents a consensus of experts from more than 20 respected environmental and conservation organizations who selected the key votes on which members should be graded. Scores are calculated on a scale of 0 to 100 based on the number of pro-environment votes cast out of the total number measured. Absences are counted as a negative vote.

In no particular order, here’s the League of Conservation Voters Lifetime Environmental Scorecard for…

John McCain - 26

Dennis Kucinich - 92

Hillary Clinton - 90

John Edwards - 59

Ron Paul - 30

Mike Gravel - 35

Fred Thompson - 12

Barack Obama - 96

Duncan Hunter - 9

Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani-No environmental voting records exist because as governors/mayor, they had no state or federal legislative voting record and thus were not scored. They have not responded to the 2008 Presidential Candidate questionnaire to provide their views on the environment so the American people can make an informed decision at the polls.

The League of Conservation Voters, which has not yet endorsed a candidate for president, described Edwards’ plan as the “most comprehensive global warming plan of any presidential candidate to date.”

“Senator Edwards’ plan demonstrates that he understands the magnitude of the challenge before us and the need for bold leadership to meet it,” LCV President Gene Karpinski said.