WASHINGTON - Northern Kentucky has the "Bushiest" bipartisan delegation in Congress.

Congressional Quarterly's annual vote analysis showed that Republican Sens. Jim Bunning and Mitch McConnell voted in support of the president's positions - on Iraq, Medicare, taxes, judges and everything else - 100 percent of the time in 2003.

They were the only two senators to get that perfect rating. McConnell is the GOP Whip, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, so it's his job to keep his party in line behind the president's agenda.

Bunning, a conservative up for re-election in a state Bush won easily, is proud to support the president, said Bunning spokesman Mike Reynard.

Even Rep. Ken Lucas, a Democrat, voted with the Bush administration 76.4 percent of the time - more than any Democrat in the House today. (Technically, Lucas was No. 2 when it came to Democrats supporting Bush in 2003, behind Rep. Ralph Hall of Texas. But Hall switched parties earlier this month.)

In the House, Rep. John Boehner of West Chester was one of 21 Republicans who supported Bush 100 percent of the time. He chairs the House committee that writes education and workplace laws.

Rep. Steve Chabot supported the president 91 percent of the time, the lowest rate among Tristate House Republicans.

TRAVELIN' MAN: Sen. Mike DeWine spent last week in South America. During the Jan. 3-9 trip he hit Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile with four other senators. They met with local government officials to talk trade, agriculture and intelligence, according to DeWine spokeswoman Amanda Flaig. And yes, DeWine's wife, Fran, went too.

THEY SAID IT: "The president believes that it's a matter for Major League Baseball." White House spokesman Scott McClellan, when asked Wednesday about Bush's view on Pete Rose admitting that he bet on baseball. Bush is the former managing general partner of the Texas Rangers.

THEY SAID IT II: "Airport security on a flight from Paris to Cincinnati removed a woman they suspected wanted to blow herself up. Who would not want to blow herself up going from Paris to Cincinnati, that's what I don't understand." - Late-night talk show host Craig Kilborn.

TWEENER OR SNOOZERVILLE: The Tristate could have three of the less exciting Senate races this year, according to the latest ratings from Chuck Todd, editor-in-chief of The Hotline, the nation's premier political clip service.

In his latest rankings of the 34 Senate races, both Ohio and Indiana were relegated to "the land of Snoozerville."

In Ohio, GOP Sen. George Voinovich, a popular former governor, will face Democrat Eric Fingerhut, a state senator. In Indiana, Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, also a popular former governor, will face Republican Marvin Scott, a sociology professor at Butler University.

Only the Kentucky race featuring Republican Sen. Jim Bunning is graded a "tweener," meaning it could be exciting. Or it could end up in Snoozerville, too. Democratic State Sen. Dan Mongiardo has said he will run.

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Carl Weiser covers Washington news for the Enquirer. E-mail cweiser@gannett.com or call (202) 906-8134.