Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), who was defeated for re-election in the 2010 Republican wave after three terms, has now begun to re-emerge into the public eye — taking part in the protests against Republican Gov. Scott Walker that have been going on pretty much non-stop for the last few months at the state Capitol.
Earlier this month, the protests took their newest form with a tent city around the Capitol, dubbed “Walkerville” as a word-play on how shantytowns became known during the Great Depression as “Hoovervilles.” As the Wisconsin State Journal reports, Feingold spoke on Sunday at a Walkerville event:
“Why are we in a place called Walkerville today?” he asked the energized crowd at the corner of State and West Mifflin streets, amid the tent village that sprang up earlier this month to protest the state budget bill and will remain through June 20 while lawmakers debate the bill.
“Because we will not stop until we win.”
Feingold, who lost his seat in November to Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson, outlined necessary actions for the near future: taking back the majority in the state Senate and Assembly, and — drawing big applause — defeating Gov. Scott Walker, who he called a tool of the Republican party.
During the speech, chants of “run, Russ, run,” could be heard, but Feingold didn’t mention his own political future.
Feingold marched with protesters last week, but this appears to be his first time directly addressing a crowd.
Feingold has also said he is looking at running for Senate again in 2012, to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl, and that he has been approached about running for governor in the potential recall against Walker in early 2012, which the state Dems have vowed to mount. He has said will make a decision on the Senate race by Labor Day.
It is interesting, as reported above by the State Journal, that Feingold alluded to defeating Walker, though he also did not discuss his own future in any direct connection with it.
