McCain's in, but Feingold's out

Posted: Sunday, November 12, 2006 9:51 AM by Elizabeth Wilner

From NBC's Elizabeth Wilner
Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold is using the occasion of his 1000th listening session with Wisconsin voters to announce that he's not going to run for president in 2008 and will focus instead on his work in the Senate, where his party is soon to be in the majority.

"Although I have given it a lot of thought, I cannot muster the same enthusiasm for a race for President while I am trying simultaneously to advance our agenda in the Senate," Feingold wrote in an e-mail to supporters. "In other words, if I really wanted to run for President, regardless of the odds or other possible candidates, I would do so. However, to put my family and all of my friends and supporters through such a process without having a very strong desire to run, seems inappropriate to me."

The other half of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform team, meanwhile, explains to NBC's Tim Russert the reasons why he IS running for president on Meet the Press this morning...

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Comments

Do you suppose that Feingold is bowing out because he saw the enormous crowds that Barack Obama was drawing? It is very likely that the Democrats owe the Senate to the tireless efforts of the "junior senator from Illinois" who was finally able to break the Carl Rove spell. I suppose that McCain may as well run for President on the "four more wars" ticket, there isn't going to be much else for a Republican Senator to do. Perhaps he can spend the next two years explaining why he said at the RNC that the war in Iraq was 'necessary, achievable and noble' and president Bush 'deserves not only our support, but our admiration.' Perhaps he can talk to the %30 who still think so.

George,Redmond,Washington (Sent Sunday, November 12, 2006 12:05 PM)

I think senator fiengold is doing great putting his party and the people ahead of his own agenda. there are much work needed ahead of them.

Kevin storage, wash. (Sent Sunday, November 12, 2006 12:39 PM)

Eh, who cares whos President in '08... Im just killin time until Ahhnold takes office in '12 :) The law will be ammended, he's going to be President. You cant stop him, its already writen in stone... you may as well accept it hehe

A S, Pompano, FL (Sent Sunday, November 12, 2006 12:59 PM)

That should be Russ Feingold's one thousandth listening session! He listens to us often.

V S, Manitowoc, Wisconsin (Sent Sunday, November 12, 2006 9:26 PM)

(I'm writing here because there seems to be no other way to comment on "Meet the Press" either publicly or privatlely. Nonetheless, I think my comments might be of interest to other MSNBC.com readers.) How bizarre is it that in the first "Meet the Press" following the upheaval of the 2006 elections Tim Russert chose as his guests his favorite Republican, John McCain, and his favorite Democrat, Joe Lieberman? These two have been on MTP more than anyone else for the last 10 years, but are completely irrelevant to this week's stories. Um, Tim, how about any of the nine new Democrats in the Senate, including 6 who beat Republican incumbents? How about any of the 40 new Democrats in the House, including the 29 who took Republican seats? How about Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi, who are going to be the leaders of the Senate and House respectively? Honestly, Russert's choice of McCain and Lieberman is absolutely baffling!

Joel Bloom, Loudonville, NY (Sent Monday, November 13, 2006 1:31 AM)

To A S, if the amendment is changed, it also could been that Governor Granholm of Michigan, a Canadian citizen, who was just re-elected, would be eligible to run also. She is a Democrat. Somehow I do not see either Party willing to open this can of worms. Besides, by 2012, Arnold's wife will have him fully converted and he will be a Democrat. Have to allow for the Kennedy push there. As for Sen Feingold, I wish he could have run as a viable candidate. I respect him immensely. However, I think he can continue to be effective in the Senate, and I for one, am glad he is there.

Desmond (Sent Monday, November 13, 2006 9:54 AM)

I can understand Russ Feingold not running, but he'd be a caring and honest person to represent us. That'd be nice for a change.

scott, winona mn (Sent Monday, November 13, 2006 12:06 PM)

Hey man, McCainn just fired his staff and is out of money now! big trouble ahead!

King (Sent Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:47 AM)

McCain is out of money now, big trouble

King, Wash (Sent Sunday, July 15, 2007 6:48 AM)

hope changed!

Relocation (Sent Thursday, July 26, 2007 3:26 AM)

wish changed!

office furniture (Sent Thursday, August 02, 2007 4:38 AM)

Russ would have been a way better democratic candidate than anyone.

Jeffrey W (Sent Friday, August 24, 2007 12:39 AM)

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