Wisconsin Readies for Russ Feingold's Return

[brooklynite]

National Journal:

To most Democratic and Republican leaders in Wisconsin, it's no longer a question of if Russ Feingold runs for Senate—it's a question of when he'll formally enter the race.

The latest round of speculation over Feingold's future started Thursday, when the Huffington Post reported that the former three-term senator was scheduled to deliver his final speech next week as a member of the State Department, where he's served since 2013 as a special envoy to central Africa.

If Feingold's departure is imminent, that comes as no surprise in Wisconsin, where political insiders have believed for months that Feingold would return to take on GOP Sen. Ron Johnson next year in a repeat of their 2010 matchup. "The general assumption and hope is that Russ Feingold does run for Senate in 2016," said Mike Tate, chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party.

Feingold, Tate added, is the "strongest candidate to take on Ron Johnson in 2016."

[joshcryer]

1. Since it won't be a midterm, he should win.

[HereSince1628]

8. Yes, that should help.

Feingold certainly has name recognition and followers.

[joshcryer]

10. And he won't have to depend on apathetic voters.

And "activists."

Run of the mill poll workers and canvassers will do what they do in general elections.

[HereSince1628]

11. Not sure what you mean by activists...

and I'm not sure what brings to mind apathetic voters?

Feingold would need every vote he can muster and he'd need many volunteers to overcome what will be a money gap created by coordination of the Koch machine and the GOP. With the grip on the senate as the prize the WI senate race will be nationally important if it is competitive. And, at least for the GOP that's going to mean funneling money from all over the nation, and some outside countries, to Johnson

[joshcryer]

12. He relies on left voters.

There's no guarantee.

[HereSince1628]

13. Are you suggesting a the connection between left voters and no guarantee

I'm having trouble understanding what you are wanting communicate.

I wholeheartedly agree there are no guarantees.

[joshcryer]

16. He got the youth vote.

The "left" didn't give a shit.

[LondonReign2]

18. You continue to lie. What is your motivation for doing so?

[HereSince1628]

20. What helped sink Feingold is the pattern of low voting by WI dems in off years

This pattern has been true for many decades, and it is likely behind the interest in moving the election of governors to off years. Since that happened, dem candidates haven't done very well, but it's also true that the pattern is greatly influenced by the multiple terms of "Tommy" Thompson.

The center of the state...and SE WI contain dems that don't turn out for off year elections, but do turnout for generals. I can't really explain it, but it's a pattern, and it has nothing to do with young age. It's as true for people in their 30's as it is for 20-somethings in or just out of college.

BUT, it also really isn't possible to dismiss the impact of misperception among WI tea-hadists, that environmental regulation to protect WI waterways (a tremendous asset for WI tourism/angling industries) was -the thing- that was hard on paper industry jobs in central WI and forestry in N. WI.

[LondonReign2]

14. You continue to spread the lie that the Left is unrealiable

Why? What is your motivation for continuing to tell this lie?

[joshcryer]

15. Arguing moderates or leftists won?

[LondonReign2]

17. Does your title make sense?

The so-called "conservative Democrats" -- whatever the fuck that oxymoron could possible mean-- like to make the false claim that the left is unreliable and doesn't come out to vote. Even after being shown this is a lie, they continue to knowingly spread this lie. The question is why. Why do "conservative democrats" knowingly tell this lie?

[LondonReign2]

21. Yeah, I didn't think you could defend your lie

[joshcryer]

22. I don't have time for mean hateful screeds.

Move along.

[ND-Dem]

2. I certainly hope so. I wonder if wisconsin has missed him? I hope so.

[Wellstone ruled]

3. About friggin time,

he got screwed with the vote count in one County. BTW,Johnson is one of the lamest Senator's to ever represent Wisconsin. The Lamest was Joe McCarthy. Russ Will have a tough slug on his hands,his worst enemy is the Journal Sentinel.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. I wouldn't exactly call McCarthy "lame"

He had a LOT of power at one time and ruined a lot of people in the process. A bull in the proverbial China shop, as it were.

[Wellstone ruled]

19. What I meant by Lame was,

he gave Wisconsin a big ol Black Eye. At the time our State really took a hit. Our College grads were considered off limits,do not hire,tainted by Tail Gunners Image. Cohen and Nixon made Joe's persona. Hearst News pretty much loved this idiot.

[progressoid]

4. That would be a breath of fresh air.

[JDPriestly]

6. I'd love to see Russ Feingold back in the Senate.

I wonder if he would consider running for president in 2016?

[Scuba]

7. Russ may or may not run for his old Senate seat, but if he doesn't ...

... I hope it's because he has a higher office in mind!

[HereSince1628]

9. Progressives United pac, which Feingold started, promotes "Stand with Sen. Sanders"

I'm not sure Feingold is really thinking he'll run for the presidency.