...and the endorsement from Senator Russ Feingold goes to...

Submitted by Jesse Russell on Fri, 2008-01-18 00:30. Current | Politics

We know Governor Jim Doyle and Rep. Gwen Moore (D-District 4) have endorsed Illinois Senator Barack Obama. We know Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-District 2) are both supporting New York Senator Hillary Clinton. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Rep. Dave Obey (D-District 7), and former Governor Tony Earl have put weight behind former North Carolina Senator John Edwards. Rep. Tom Petri (R-District 6) has endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. As for the rest of our leadership? They are currently "neutral." However, freshman Senator Russ Feingold did make a handful of comments to the Appleton Post Crescent editorial board that narrows down who he may eventually endorse. In a Q&A published Thursday Feingold said, "I'm having a hard time deciding between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, as are many people. Those are the two I take the most seriously."

Why not Edwards? Feingold says it comes down to what Edwards voted for and what he is saying now:

Quote:

The one that is the most problematic is Edwards, who voted for the Patriot Act, campaigns against it. Voted for No Child Left Behind, campaigns against it. Voted for the China trade deal, campaigns against it. Voted for the Iraq war … He uses my voting record exactly as his platform, even though he had the opposite voting record.

When you had the opportunity to vote a certain way in the Senate and you didn't, and obviously there are times when you make a mistake, the notion that you sort of vote one way when you're playing the game in Washington and another way when you're running for president, there's some of that going on.

Strong stuff from the Senator, especially to a paper in an area of the state that is otherwise very supportive of Edwards and his blue collar, labor friendly message.

While Edwards appears to score fairly low on Feingold's report card, Clinton and Obama aren't exactly receiving gold stars either:

Quote:

I did notice that as the primaries heated up, all of a sudden, all the presidential candidates — none of whom voted with me on the time frame to withdraw from Iraq — all voted with me and when we did the Patriot Act stuff.

Will Feingold endorse before February 5? I wouldn't bet my money on it.

Side note: I would like to take a moment to applaud Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold for making Wisconsin one of only two states with perfect Senate attendance voting records in 2007. The average for a U.S. Senator is 420, but our overachievers made it to all 442. Maine also deserves a high five.

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