Feingold in the fight of his political life

[undeterred]

By CLAY BARBOUR | [e-mail] | 608-252-6129 | Posted: Sunday, October 3, 2010 8:00 am

In a year when voters are clamoring for leaders unafraid to buck Washington, the one Democratic incumbent many thought would be safe was U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold. After 18 years in office, the Middleton lawyer has earned a reputation for independence, voting against his party 887 times.

He opposed the bank bailouts, the Patriot Act, the Afghan troop surge and co-authored landmark campaign finance legislation that bears his name — all positions that are popular with a large segment of the public, if not official Washington. But in a time when most experts spell liberal, L-0-S-E-R, the junior senator from Wisconsin finds himself in the political fight of his life.

Three recent polls show the once-popular Feingold trailing significantly to the Republican nominee, Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson, a political newcomer running on what he feels is a job-creating platform of lower taxes and limited government. To accomplish that, the millionaire businessman cites his 30 years running a plastics company. It is a resume and platform nearly identical to that of Tim Michels, who Feingold defeated in 2004 by 12 percentage points. But 2010 is not 2004. And Johnson is not Michels.

Johnson is well heeled and unafraid to spend what it takes to win. Through August, he has outspent Feingold $4.55 million to $4.28 million, much of it coming from his own pocket. In 2004, Feingold outspent Michels $9.2 million to $5.5 million. That is not likely to happen this time around.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_a0222d8b-557f-51db-be0d-2726b423c1d2.html

We need to get the Dem voters who usually skip midterms to vote... hopefully they will all be called by Election Day.

[speppin]

1. I spent the day looking at the fall colors yesterday and saw mostly Johnson signs-big

ones (along with Walker signs who is the Repug running for Gov). Just a few Feingold signs and they were much smaller). Most of the area I covered was rural in nature and I did a lot of driving including along lakes, and rivers with summer homes. I really was surprised at the number of repug signs as I drove along.

[undeterred]

3. In 2006 there were signs for Green all over the state

before Doyle got his out.

I live in Madison and I honestly haven't seen a Ron Johnson sign yet. :hippie:

[speppin]

16. Most likely they will not waste money on too many signs for

Madison??? They know it is mostly blue already.

[Eric J in MN]

2. I donated.

http://www.russfeingold.org

[Jackpine Radical]

4. I spent yesterday afternoon phone banking for Russ & Barrett.

Then I spent about an hour doing a solo color drive (my wife being out of town for the weekend).

Tbere were a lot of big, ostentatious R signs out there, but also a scattering of Feingold signs in the countryside.

Sign counts don't mean much in my experience. The results of the phone banking were scary, however. As always on a Saturday afternoon, not a lot of people were home. I generally take my time with calls, and get into conversations with people when I call them. I talked a few Russ-leaning people into agreeing to vote, and maybe did some good that way, but I heard a lot of desperation mixed with apathy out there. Some were saying they weren't going to vote because they voted for Obama wanting change, and they didn't get it. One woman talked about how she just barely missed qualifying for Badger Care (WI's extension to Medicaid), and had a policy from her $8/hour job with a $3000 deductible, which was the same as not having insurance as far as she was concerned. Another woman said she has been out of work for 2 years, hasn't been able to make her house payments, and is about to be foreclosed on. She wanted to know why the billions in bailouts went to the banks. Wouldn't it have been better to give that money to the people who needed it and let them pay their bills with it?

I would summarize the afternoon of phone calling by saying that people who voted for Obama have not felt much change in their lives except an increasing sense of desperation. They are demoralized. They feel burned. They are in "Fool me once…" mode. They're not just bitter at Democrats; I doubt that many of them will vote for Republicans. They just won't vote.

[undeterred]

5. I'm calling this afternoon.

I feel disappointed in Obama too- but Feingold hasn't gone along with him on everything and he wanted better Health Care than this for the country. Anyone who follows Feingold knows how hard he fights for the middle class, much more than a lot of Democrats.

[Jackpine Radical]

8. Yes, of course, I agree entirely.

Here's the problem, in your own words:

Anyone who follows Feingold knows how hard he fights for the middle class

The point is, these people don't follow politics. What I'm trying to do is report what I was hearing from the non-political junkies I talked to.

[burning rain]

18. Makes me think of how in 1980 the conservative Democrat Jimmy Carter led many liberals to defeat.

Liberal heroes George McGovern, Birch Bayh, John Culver, Frank Church, Jacob Javits, and Gaylord Nelson all went down that year.

[stray cat]

6. sounds like DU

[Jackpine Radical]

9. Yes, and that's what scares me.

It's one thing to hear these sentiments in the DU bubble; it's something else to encounter them out in the "real world." As long as we, and the Gibbses of the world, keep thinking that these sentiments are limited to the "professional leftists," we are becoming increasingly disconnected with reality.

[stray cat]

7. thanks for your efforts on all of our behalfs

[Eric J in MN]

11. Russ Feingold voted against the Bank Bailout Bill.

Since she thinks it was wrong, that's a reason to vote for him.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00212

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Thanks for that one.

I either hadn't known or forgotten.

(Edited for dumb typo)

[aggiesal]

19. First, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU ,,,

for your hard work and dedication in helping Feingold and Barrett.

Second, what really gets me is that people like the woman who just missed BadgerCare and
is making $8/Hr. need to realize that the Republicans have run the country (into the ground)
for 20 of the past 29.5 years, with Bush having 8 of the last 9.5 years. How is Obama expected
to change that much damage in 18 months of office. Especially when Obama is dealing with the
party of "NO" on every issue.

I understand that there is no consolation from these people because they are either on the edge
of hurting or are already falling off the cliff. So, nothing short of a miracle will be able to
save them.

So let's elect those (Republicans) that threw us over the edge.

I hate Stupid people.

[Jefferson23]

10. K&R for Feingold! n/t

[undeterred]

13. Just got home from making phone calls.

Lots of people don't answer, some people actually hang up on you before you get started.

One lady told me the biggest issue was the czars. :shrug:

Another lady told me her biggest issue was jobs. She thinks they should stop unemployment compensation because it keeps people from looking for work.

And health care... some people don't want their premiums to go up because that means they are paying for other peoples health care.

:banghead:

[Eric J in MN]

14. You can tell them that...

...Russ Feingold demanded information from Obama on his "czars"
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/59071-feingold-questions-obama-czars

...and that people only receive unemployment compensation if they made an effort to find work.

[undeterred]

15. Thanks.

Its been a long time since I've heard anyone mention the czars.

Hard to change anyone's mind about the unemployed.

[awoke_in_2003]

17. "the biggest issue was the czars"...

maybe she is Lenin re-incarnate :)

[pmorlan1]

20. If you got it - please donate to Feingold

I donated another $50 to his campaign over the weekend. I wish I had more because this is one politician that deserves it.

[midnight]

21. Doesn't sound like Clay Barbour can spell. Otherwise, he would know that

Loser is spelled, B.P. stock holder who wants to drill in the Great Lakes!