Kos has a 2008 straw poll up

[ginnyinWI]

Go and vote JK up if you are so inclined.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/31/122616/953

[beachmom]

1. I voted; nothing's changed really

In order it's Feingold, Clark, Warner, Edwards, No freaking clue, and then Kerry/Hillary tied with 3%.

Anyway, not scientific.

[rox63]

2. I voted as well

Kerry's still my top pick. If anything, even more so than before.

[FreedomAngel82]

3. Same here!

I voted and Feingold is still a head.

[Blaukraut]

4. why Feingold?

What, precisely, are the criteria for Feingold? Other than his no vote on the IWR, there isn't a whole lot of difference between him and JK. As a matter of fact, I think he has LESS accomplishments than Kerry.

[rox63]

5. And Feingold voted for the Roberts SCOTUS nomination

I think he might have voted for Alito as well, if not for the outcry from voters.

[Mass]

6. Because by his place in the Judiciary Committee and now

in the Intelligence Committee, he is taking the place Kerry once had in asking tough questions and he is using well.

A perfect example is how he is dealing with the Patriot Act (aside from the fact he was the only one who voted against it in 2001). He is making the case extremely well (see his article in the WaPo attacking Gonzales). It is more difficult for Kerry, not being in these committees, to make these cases. His post both in the Commerce Committee and in the SB Committee are both very important,but less sexy particularly for the kos crowd and most of them do not really care what he did 10 to 15 years ago.

There may be discussion on whether Feingold is or not a good candidate for 08, but he is doing great (except for a few votes I would disagree, the same way I disagree with a few of Kerry's votes).

[blm]

7. It would have been more helpful had Feingold addressed the Gonzales lies

BEFORE Alito's confirmation. He could have used it for hypotheticals to Alito on unitary executive.

We HAVE known about NSA spying for over a month now - why didn't Feingold make this point about Gonzales when it could have had some bearing in Alito hearings?

[Mass]

8. I dont necessarily disagree, I was explaining why they like him

(and I do like him too - I just prefer Kerry).

A lot of things would have been helpful. For example, it would have been helpful if the Senate Leadership (of which Feingold is a member) had made a strategy to go after Alito.

I listened to a few speeches this morning. After having listened to those who spoke yesterday before the vote and who, for the most part, tried to relate the issue to real people lives, those who were talking this morning were talking "senatorese" and it was the same thing that happened at the hearings. If you want to make a Constitutional point, senators, tell us how it affects us.

[blm]

9. I know why they like him - he's not a bad guy - he makes just as many

mistakes as anyone else, but usually sticks his neck out far less. He just manages to pick a battle every now and then that hits home with the internet, even though his actual accomplishments aren't exactly the best.

McCain-Feingold helped to take attention away from the Clean Elections bill that was written by Kerry and Wellstone who advocated for public financing of campaigns to get rid of ALL corporate money.

I doubt that many are even aware of that fact. Feingold could have thrown in with them, but instead chose to side with McCain which really did very little to stem any corruption in the campaign process.

[sandnsea]

18. He's got alot of good votes

He's a good solid liberal, but also has no anti-gun baggage. Remember, eliminate objections. Alot of rural conservatives don't trust the Patriot Act so it won't hurt him in most western states. He looks nice and trustworthy. He's got alot going for him, I'd be almost as happy with Feingold as Kerry. Except for those two divorces which would be a huge hurdle. Remember, in 2002 alot of people had never heard of John Kerry either.

[jillan]

10. I give up!

Kerry is practically losing.

Why? Because of the 19 senators that
left the party?
If they joined in Kerry's fight, do you think
he would be winning now?

And why Feingold?
I like Russ.
But, I love Kerry.

[Mass]

12. Kerry has always lost on kos. It is not going to change today.

[sandnsea]

17. Feingold's the new Dean

Without foot in mouth disease. I like Feingold, he's a good #2 for me except his divorce problem. The ones I don't get are Warner and Clark, nice safe centrists which are supposedly what they're all against. :crazy:

[ProSense]

11. Whatever, Kerry will win! n/t

[demdiva]

15. But of course

[_dynamicdems]

13. Didn't Feingold make the announcement last year that he is

getting a divorce. That makes two. Isn't that going to pretty kill his chances? It makes no difference to me, but in '04 Sen. Kerry got bashed for one divorce with an annulment!

[demdiva]

14. FEINGOLD? Heh?

[wisteria]

16. I voted , but I don't care much about KOS polls. It seems to me

the voters go for candidates the voters personally think can win and their choice is not based on any reality. Warner ahead of Kerry? Come on, he is DLC all the way and he has very little experience when you come down to it. Oh, but he is a red stater and a former governor no less- well there you go.

They want someone to stand up and fight? I doubt that will be Warner. He preaches the middle road and lets all get along.

Feingold doesn't surprise me for some reason, I don't think he has much going for him outside of the KOS crowd.And as someone mentioned, he has been divorced twice. This doesn't say much about commitment and "staying the course".

[ginnyinWI]

19. he's popular in Wisconsin

He got something like 70% in his reelection in 2004. He even gets repub voters--but that doesn't necessarily translate to the presidential. What about national security credibility--something that will still be important next time.

I don't have any inside dirt about the divorce--except that I think she had been living here and working at her career, while he was in Washington much of the time. :shrug: