Looks like
Russ Feingold is running for President again. Or still. Or something:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. Russ Feingold, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, will visit New Hampshire next month, the state with the first primary in the nation.
Feingold campaign spokesman George Aldrich said Monday that the Wisconsin Democrat has accepted an invitation to appear at a fundraiser and news conference with Manchester's Democratic mayor, Bob Baines, who is up for re-election. Feingold also will speak at the first annual Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner, hosted by the Rockingham County Democrats.
But Aldrich said the visit had nothing to do with a possible presidential campaign. "This is a way for him to help Democrats across the county get elected."
Uh, yeah, he's going to stump for the mayor of Manchester. Sorry, George, I don't buy it.
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So, the guy's a bona fide Presidential candidate. Is that good or bad? As a born-and-bred Cheesehead, I love Russ. I've met him on a few occasions and I work once in a while with his most recent ex-wife. Good people. He's a straight-shooter and I've often said the one thing that can get him elected is that he makes liberal ideas sound like common sense. Doesn't over-intellectualize. And he's a great debater and campaigner. And he keeps his promises. He promised the almost impossible task of holding a town hall meeting in each of Wisconsin's 72 counties each year, and he's done it for twelve years now.
He'll carry Wisconsin easily. But the rest of the country?
He's still relatively unknown. Relatively green. He's a bit mavericky, which might make the primary hard on him. And he's recently divorced, at least in part because she didn't want to be first lady. Shouldn't be an issue, but it likely will be. Plus as we've learned recently, it's damn hard to elect a Senator to the White House.
But he is a good Senator. Lone vote against the Patriot Act - which could come back to haunt him or help him. McCain-Feingold was a big deal. He's been pretty easy on Shrub's appointments, but only because he believes in the executive prerogative. So when he does oppose a nominee, such as Bolton, you know he really means it. And with Dean running the party, I'm not sure mavericky is a bad thing.
I'm still undecided. I love Russ. I'd volunteer for his campaign. I think he'd make a great president. What do you all think? (Poll in good Wisconspeak.)