Feingold's Campaign

[erpowers]

What type of campaign did Feingold run? Was it an honest campaign that talked about issues, or did he do any negative adds? I ask this in that some people wonder if Feingold is mean enough to run for President. They wonder if Feingold would be willing to put out some of the negative ads that are put out by most candidates who run for President.

[shoelace414]

1. ooh.. Feingold for pres..

I like it. He did bring up how Michels wanted to vote for all free trade agreements, and other things that he was for. but I didn't follow that campaign much because.. well.. it's not like Michels was going to come close.

[AllyCat]

13. He brought it up...

...but then he clarified in REAL language what he supports. It wasn't just an attack on Michels. He was stating facts and then said HOW he would FIX it. I don't think Feingold was negative at all.

He's a great man.

[ewagner]

2. Pretty clean

I served on one of the regional advisory committees. Feingold ran a super clean campaign. The only ad that could be remotely seen as negative was one where Russ directly answered his opponents lie about Russ being against reimportation of drugs, when, in fact, Russ has been a champion of the cause.

On the local level it was squeaky clean. Avoid direct confrontations wherever we could......

[sybylla]

3. Yep

Russ ran a very clean campaign, just like the last two. No neg ads but he is very effective using humor and truth to slam his opponents. I think he has a great shot at the presidency - only I'd hate to see him go. :cry:

[stray cat]

4. He told the straight forward truth in answer to negative ads

He was extremely effective without going negative. When they accused him of being unpatriotic by voting against the patriot act. He explained the reason he voted against it "he read it" - enough said. I think Feingold could hold his own in a national election.

[sybylla]

5. The best thing about Feingold is that he's no centrist

He's progressive, he's liberal and very proud of it. He stands up for Dem issues and doesn't cow to criticism. He'd definitely make a strong candidate.

[ewagner]

6. He also

has a pretty good relationship with the NRA. Did you notice they didn't attack him at all during the campaign....they went after Kerry with half-truths and misleading ads but they left Feingold alone.

Also, during canvassing, we ran into Repubs and (unfortunately) Dems who said they would vote for Feingold but not Kerry....the same thing happened with yard sign requests....

[ooglymoogly]

7. nothing but good vibes from feingold n/t

[htuttle]

8. But would he survive what the DLC would want to do to him?

I think Feingold won so many more votes than Kerry in Wisconsin because he told the truth, didn't take big money contributions, and didn't use many weasel words. He stands by his positions, and does not try to pander to those who don't agree with him, but instead explains why he takes those positions.

By the time those Washington DC consultants got through with him, would he still be able to campaign that way? What would happen to Feingold if they told him he should 'triangulate' on the issues? I think Feingold wins because he DOESN'T do that.

Seems to me that they'd end up attacking him for the same things they attacked Howard Dean on.

I'm not saying Feingold couldn't win. Only that he'd have to STAY Feingold in order to win. I'm not sure the national Democratic party would allow that in a Presidential race.

Just some thoughts.

[sybylla]

9. You're right

He'd have to stay Feingold to win. But I think he would. He has all the facts behind him. He ran a liberal, progressive campaign, as you said he didn't weasel, he stands behind everything he's ever done and his common sense and humor got him elected for a third term with a huge percentage of the non-Dem vote. What more would he have to do to convince the DNC that he has the key to a win?

I would hope they have the brains to leave our honorable senator alone in a presidential race. But I have now doubt that the corporate interests controlling our political system will do what they can against him, including pushing the DNC to a centrist candidate once again.

[madison2000]

10. Feingold is really liked by everyone

I worked the Kerry rally and I must have pasted 1000 Russ stickers on people- the reaction was 100% positive.

I know some Limbaugh loving lunatics who think Bush is God's gift to earth, and they voted for Feingold. Not AGAINST his opponent, but FOR him. He doesn't have that politician slime that so many of them do, and people trust him even if they don't agree with everything. He defies stereotypes.

I would love to see him run for president, hate to think of the media attacking him.

His campaign advertising was almost sweet compared to everything else I saw the last few months!

[BrainRants]

11. Hands down best campaign ads in WI.

I know lots of Repug's who like Russ.

[CarbonDate]

12. I wanted Russ to run in 2000....

I backed Clark in the 2004 primaries, but if they both ran in 2008, I'd have a hard time choosing.

[AllyCat]

14. Clark/Feingold '08!

I'm against running any more Senators for POTUS. But if Feingold ran with Clark as Veep and after a miraculous 8 years ran on his own merits in '16....oh! I would be in heaven! He's a young guy, but not inexperienced.

[AllyCat]

15. Scrap that...too much wine

I mean if Clark ran with Feingold for Veep... jeez...well, either would probably be good.

[CarbonDate]

16. mmm.... dream ticket....

Frankly, I'd love to see a progressive Wisconsinite run for President/Vice President.

What about Doyle? Assuming he wins re-election, he'd be mid-way through his second term. And from what I hear, he's become surprisingly popular as governor. My dad, who generally votes Republican, approves of the job Doyle's doing and says he doesn't think Tommy would win if he came back and ran against Doyle. Probably why all the talk is about Tommy coming back to run for Senate, not governor; Kohl is a lot more vulnerable.

[AllyCat]

17. Excellent idea

I think candidates with a previous leadership position like GOVERNOR, not Senator, are going to be more electable in either of the two major parties.

Doyle has grown on me. I voted for Ed Thompson during that election, but I think Doyle has done a respectable job with the mess he got from TT and McCallum. Also, he made me pretty happy when he told Scott Walker, the Milwaukee County Executive to quit whining and print the ballots the County needed.

[rodeodrive1]

19. Kohl could be beaten

You are right, it would be rough to win the Governorship again, but he could still win it. Doyle is not a popularity king. Scottie was a DISASTER, but there are other reasons that Thompson would not run for Governor again. He did it for 14 years already. Also, from what I hear, his wife doesn't want him back in the state full-time. Doyle is an INCUMBENT, and there are TONS of other Republicans who want to run, and he would have a HUGE primary fight. He could however, win the Senate seat. I don't think Kohl will run again, and if he did, he would be a weak candidate. He would be what, 71 years old, and HE IS NOT FEINGOLD. For some crazy reason, TT is regarded as a rock star in Wisconsin. Go figure.

[Zynx]

18. He runs as a maverick liberal that has impecable personal character.

Everyone respects Feingold and that's why he continues to win.