Feingold's Motive For Backing Out Of 2008 Run? [Ponders] Gore?

[Infinite Hope]

1) Did he get private word from his good friend Gore that Gore would be running?

2) Did he get private word from his good friend Gore that Gore would undo the mistake he made in his 2000 Vice Presidential selection when he chose Lieberman over Feingold?

[pstans]

1. #1 is more likely, but I think Obama had some to do with it too

In a couple of interviews with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Russ mentioned Gore and Obama as possible candidates. I think both possibly running had an effect.

I also think that Feingold truly believes he can make a difference pushing progressive issues in the Senate. Hopefully, he can influence the Senate newcomers in Webb and Tester and join Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown as true progressive voices.

[charlyvi]

2. Don't know, and if Gore runs he has my vote, but....

I think he's helping civilisation just fine with what he is doing now.

[Radical Activist]

3. Democrats getting a majority in the Senate

probably had more to do with it. He has some seniority and can do good things without a long-shot bid.

[Fridays Child]

4. I'd support a Gore-Feingold ticket.

Although, I'd prefer a Gore-Clark or a Gore-Dean ticket.

[longship]

6. Or Gore/Sebelius!!

Gotta have a woman on the ticket. Gotta.

I'd prefer a woman at the top of the ticket, unless Gore runs. Then, there has to be a woman as Veep candidate.

Men have ruled alone long enough. It's time for that to change.

[Fridays Child]

7. Gore-Napolitano?

Being a Zonie, I had to say that. :P

Seriously, though, Janet Napolitano is a great governor. I'd hate to see her go.

[longship]

9. Yes.

Governor Napolitano is really good, too.

I was thinking Sebelius cuz I know her. She's a very intelligent person, has a long-long Democratic Party heritage--her father was a Dem governor of Ohio, John J. Gilligan.

When I was a Dem county officer in KS in the 90's she was insurance commisioner, but we knew that she was headed for much bigger things. She was easily re-elected to office this year, taking nine Republican turn-coats with her--one, a former Republican state chair, as her running mate. I'm sure Sebelius's coat-tails helped in Jim Ryun's loss to Nancy Boyda in KS-2.

Kathleen is a very classy person with a razor sharp mind. If she ran for President in '08, I could very well support her. (However, not over Gore.)

[elocs]

5. Feingold is my senator and a great one.

Wisconsin will send him back to the Senate each time he runs. He will continue to be a great and respected senator who has the courage of his convictions and as with the original vote on the Patriot Act he can be a voice crying in the wilderness. I believe that he realized that his bid for the presidency would be a long shot and would be detrimental to the party and to other candidates. I do not think that Senator Feingold has the necessary ego to run for president. He is more interested in doing what he thinks is right and is unwilling to compromise himself and his beliefs.

[election_2004]

8. Maybe he just prefers his work in the U.S. Senate?

Or he thinks that possibly being tapped as V.P. might be a more logical path for him?

[BluegrassDem]

10. Maybe he just knew he had no way in hell of winning?

A single, Jewish guy would not win in a general election. And for the record, being single is probably the hardest thing to swallow for most Americans. Besides, when you're single, how many gay rumors get started? Gov. Napolitano is single and they're already whispering about her being a lesbian. It's just the way the game is played unfortunately.

[CTyankee]

11. I agree on the single guy issue but for another reason

Single guys can date and presumably have a variety of partners. I'm not saying that Feingold did, just that there are lots of sexually repressed voters who would hold that against him. Just sayin'.