Growing up a St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, Jim Talent had no shortage of sports heroes to choose from. But it was one character trait in particular that led the Missouri Sen. to revere players like Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith and, lately, Albert Pujols.

"I tend to admire the professionals, the ones who really approach the game with discipline and preparation and as a result are the money players, the ones who deliver in the clutch," Talent said in a recent interview between campaign stops in rural Missouri.

That's the way Talent has approached his first term in the U.S. Senate, where he has a reputation for diligence, hard work and a keen grasp of the finer points of legislation.

And it points to the kind of vigorous campaign he's running to defend his seat against Democrat Claire McCaskill, the state auditor and a formidable opponent in one of the nation's most hotly contested Senate races.

Colleagues respect Talent as serious, smart and low-key - not like some other lawmakers who spend their time chasing down cameras and talk shows. Tall and slender with a boyish face and a hint of gray hair, Talent is often described as a policy wonk whose sincerity helps him connect with voters.