Sen. Feingold won't run for president in 2008

Perhaps America isn't ready for a president named Russ. Democratic Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, best known as the co-sponsor of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance bill, will not be running for president in 2008.

The Chicago Tribune's Swamp blog reprinted this Feingold e-mail to his supporters:'

On Sunday, November 12th in Racine, I will hold my 1000th Listening Session with the people of Wisconsin. Before reaching that milestone, I want you to know that I've decided to continue my role as Wisconsin's junior senator in the U.S. Senate and not to seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.

Like many Americans, I am excited by the results of the November 7th election. My fourteen years in the Senate have been the greatest privilege of my life and I am extremely pleased with what we have accomplished. During so much of that time, however, we Democrats have not only been in the minority but have often been so deeply mired there that my role has often been to block bad ideas or to simply dissent. That is a very important role but I relish the thought that in this new Congress we can start, not only to undo much of the damage that one-party rule has done to America, we can actually advance progressive solutions to such major issues as guaranteed healthcare, dependence on oil, and our unbalanced trade policies. The Senate of the 110th Congress could also well be a place of greater bi-partisan opportunities for change; something I am very proud to have been effective at in both Republican and Democratic Senates.

He didn't have much of a chance of getting the Democratic nomination, and Feingold knew it.

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