In conjunction with The Atlantic Wire, National Journal asked its panel of Congressional and Political Insiders to rank, one-through-five, those columnists, bloggers, and television or radio commentators who most help to shape their own opinion or worldview. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman received more points than anyone else, with support from both Democrats and Republicans. But it was rare that any media commentator boasted a significant audience from both sides of the partisan divide.
Total points | Democratic points | Republican points | |
Thomas Friedman | 335 | 230 | 105 |
David Brooks | 282 | 141 | 141 |
Charles Krauthammer | 281 | 1 | 280 |
George Will | 246 | 23 | 223 |
Paul Krugman | 182 | 181 | 1 |
David Broder | 165 | 106 | 59 |
E.J. Dionne | 147 | 143 | 4 |
Karl Rove | 126 | 1 | 125 |
Peggy Noonan | 101 | 5 | 96 |
William Kristol | 91 | 5 | 86 |