January 22

 Feingold Gauging Presidential Support

By FREDERIC J. FROMMER, Associated Press Writer CHAPEL HILL, N.C.  - Sen. Russ Feingold (news) is a well-known maverick on Capitol Hill and in his home state of Wisconsin, but not many other places.

``People think my first name is McCain,'' joked Feingold, the less famous half of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill for which he is best known nationally.

He's looking to change that with a college tour, part of a series of appearances some see as the second-term U.S. senator's way of gauging whether to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004.

His visit to the University of North Carolina last week followed trips to universities in Michigan, Texas and Iowa, site of the country's first presidential caucus. Prior to that, he spoke at the University of New Hampshire, the state with the first presidential primary.

Feingold puts the odds of a presidential campaign at only 1 in a 100 but says he wants to see Democrats choose a progressive nominee.

Feingold's liberal politics and independent streak could make him an attractive candidate for voters drawn to Democrat Bill Bradley (news - web sites) in 2000, though analysts say he'd need to broaden his base to win.

``I think that Feingold has an interesting, outside appeal,'' political analyst Stuart Rothenberg said. ``He sees himself as the conscience of his party. He kind of likes to ruffle feathers, much as (Arizona Sen. John) McCain does. They get a kick out of it.''

But the maverick in Feingold might give some Democratic voters pause, Rothenberg said.

``Some will think, 'Are you sure you know what you get with Russ Feingold?''' he said.

Last year, Feingold was the only senator to vote against the anti-terrorism bill, citing civil liberties concerns. He also tried to stop an automatic cost-of-living pay raise from taking effect for members of Congress. When that failed, he declined his own raise.

Though a leftist who supports organized labor and abortion rights, Feingold has a history of confounding Democrats.

His vote to confirm John Ashcroft (news - web sites), a staunch conservative, was key to the former Missouri senator becoming attorney general. Feingold said he believes presidents ought to be able to choose their own Cabinet members, regardless of ideology. He also was the only Democrat to vote against a motion to dismiss impeachment charges against President Clinton (news - web sites).

``I just do what I think is the right thing to do,'' Feingold said. ``If I pay a price for it later on, so be it. I made a commitment to vote my conscience.''

Feingold, 48, has made a point of telling Wisconsin voters exactly what they get. In his office is a ``contract'' in which Feingold promises to raise most of his campaign money in his home state, send his children to public schools there, and accept no pay raises during his six-year term.

In front of about 1,000 people at the University of North Carolina, his mix of passion and humor drew an enthusiastic response. He talked about his crusades against the anti-terrorism bill, the death penalty and racial profiling, and the need for more U.S. involvement in African affairs.

Although his opposition to the death penalty won the most applause, Feingold's campaign finance reform crusade hit a chord with the students. Some were gathering signatures to put a referendum on the student ballot that would urge the North Carolina Legislature to pass campaign finance reform.

Feingold comes from a political family. His father, Leon Feingold, helped organize ``Joe Must Go'' efforts aimed at dumping Sen. Joseph McCarthy, the red-baiting Wisconsin Republican.

In the 1968 Democratic presidential primary, Leon Feingold supported Hubert Humphrey. Russ Feingold, then a ninth-grader, liked Robert F. Kennedy.

``My father sent me upstairs without my dinner for saying something bad about Hubert Humphrey,'' Feingold said.

Feingold was a little-known Wisconsin state senator in 1992 when, with the help of a series of offbeat TV ads, he upset incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Robert Kasten. In 1998, Feingold refused to let the Democratic Party run negative ads against his Republican opponent and kept his pledge to spend no more than $1 per voter. He escaped with a 2 percentage point victory.

Feingold said he has been encouraged by the reception he's gotten during his stops around the country and likely will make a decision about the presidency in March 2003, when he turns 50.

``They want somebody who's independent, they want somebody who isn't somebody they think will vote automatically the same way with the same interests all the time,'' he said. ``Somebody who will take chances with their votes and positions.''

Feingold would be the first Jewish president if he goes all the way in 2004, but he wouldn't be the first trailblazer in the family. His sister Dena became the first female rabbi in Wisconsin two decades ago.