WASHINGTON — A new analysis ranks Utah GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch among the nation's 10 most powerful senators, with Republican Sen. Bob Bennett right in the middle of the 100-member Senate, ranking 45th.
As for Utah's House members, Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, barely missed making the top 100, clocking in at 102 out of 438 state representatives and territorial delegates.
And compared to other members with the same tenure, Cannon and Rep. Jim Matheson ranked well.
Cannon was the fourth-most powerful representative elected in 1996.
Democrat Matheson was in the bottom half of the entire House, ranking 314th. But for Democrats elected in 2000, he ranked second.
Charles Isom, Cannon's spokesman, said that while a lot of rankings come out grading congressional performance, it is always good to see one that proves "he is doing the job" his constituents expect. However, "you can't base your legislation on how you'll be ranked."
Utah's third congressman, Rep. Rob Bishop, ranked slightly higher than Matheson at 311. On the flip side, he was only the 39th most powerful member elected in 2002, and the lowest ranked Republican elected that year.
The rankings were put together by Knowlegis, a company that provides services and software for government relations professionals.
Other rankings showed the best known members of Congress aren't necessarily the most powerful.
The Democrats' last presidential candidate, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, for example, is ranked 61st in terms of clout.
A much junior colleague and likely competitor for the party's White House nomination in 2008, former first lady and now New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, ranks 41st.
The survey, which ranks every member of Congress based on very Washington wonk criteria — committee and leadership positions, political influence and legislative activity — puts Republican John McCain of Arizona as the third most powerful senator.
Ahead of him are Majority Leader Bill Frist, who's vying with McCain for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, followed by Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The only Democrat to make the top 10 Senate list was Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who placed fifth.
Limited to activities in 2005, the rankings are out of date in at least one case.
Soon-to-be-retired Tom DeLay, R-Texas, was listed as the second most powerful member of the House, behind Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert.
California Rep. Nancy Pelosi was the top-ranked Democrat in the House as minority leader. She placed eighth on the list of most powerful House members.
For a complete rankings list, go to www.congress.org.
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com