CHEYENNE - The decades spent by John Barrasso in helping us care for ourselves have paid off big in positive statewide name recognition.

A Casper orthopedic surgeon, Barrasso, 54, has been in the spotlight for years through television and radio appearances and a weekly newspaper column peppered with practical medical advice.

During his nearly five years in the Wyoming Senate, he has actively worked on health care issues, including sponsorship of the "I'm sorry" law.

The so-called law enables physicians to talk freely with their patients once unforeseen complications arise without having that conversation used against them in a lawsuit.

He also voted to draft a bill to ban smoking in public places statewide.

He circulated petitions to exempt food from the state sales tax and successfully sponsored the 2006 amendment that incorporated the two-year tax break in the budget. The exemption was subsequently made permanent.

"I believe in limited government, lower taxes, less spending, traditional family values, local control and a strong national defense," Barrasso said in his application to the Republican State Central Committee to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas.

"I have the legislative experience to hit the ground running," he added.

"In addition to receiving an 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association, I have voted for prayer in schools, against gay marriage and have sponsored legislation to protect the sanctity of life," he said.

Barrasso's reputation as a consensus builder coupled with his broad knowledge and understanding of critical health care issues are considered by supporters as his two greatest assets.

Yet, he never has run a successful statewide campaign. He was a candidate in 1996 for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Alan Simpson, but lost the Republican primary to Mike Enzi, now Wyoming's senior U.S. senator.

He has also staunchly championed anti-abortion causes.

In 1994, he was one of the contributors to "No on Number One," a political action committee organized to oppose passage of a constitutional amendment that would have banned most abortions.

Voters overwhelmingly defeated the amendment.

When he ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996, he was quoted as saying he doesn't believe in telling doctors how to practice and he believes that abortion should be a decision between a pregnant woman and her doctor, according to newspaper accounts.

At the same time, he said he would vote to ban use of federal funds for abortions.

Since being elected to the Wyoming Senate, he's sponsored bills to increase the penalty for killing a pregnant woman.

The latter bill passed the Legislature last winter but was vetoed by the governor on grounds that it would open up a state debate on abortion rights and might be unconstitutional.

Freudenthal said the state already has laws to protect pregnant women.

Barrasso said his only motive in sponsoring the bill was in reaction to the murder of Califonian Laci Peterson and her eight-month-old unborn son, Connor.

Their bodies were found in San Francisco Bay after she disappeared Christmas Eve 2002.

Her husband, Scott Peterson, was convicted in November 2004 of killing Laci and her unborn son.

The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) opposed the bill while the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault was neutral.

"We had considered him mixed on choice," Sharon Breitweiser, state executive of NARAL, said Wednesday. "Now we consider him to be anti-choice."

A legislative colleague, Democratic Sen. Jayne Mockler of Cheyenne, said she believes Barrasso learned a lot in the Senate.

"He pays great attention to detail. He has the most immaculate desk in the place," Mockler said. "I think that's the doctor in him."

Sen. John Hines, R-Gillette, a former House member, moved to the Senate the same year Barrasso was sworn in.

"I was very much impressed with his efficiency and his ability to read something and remember it later," Hines said.

Barrasso, he said, would read a document and throw it away. A week or two later when Hines couldn't find his copy, he said Barrasso could tell him what was in it.

"He's a pleasant, agreeable guy to work with," Hines added.

Marguerite Herman, a lobbyist for the Wyoming League of Women Voters, said Barrasso has the reputation of being one of the most technology-savvy members of the Legislature.

"He always has been conscientious about reading and answering e-mail, and I think he was one of the first in the Senate to make good use of his laptop computer at his desk," she said.

Herman said Barrasso's personal style is "somewhat formal."

"I don't remember hearing him raise his voice in committee or Senate debate, although he can be emphatic," she added.