Feingold: Best Dem hope or ulcer-maker?

Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold figures prominently in today's discussion of the 2008 presidential race by The Note, from ABC News:

In a possible sign that Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) thinks the way to beat Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) in 2008 is by running to her left, he began an op-ed in Sunday's Washington Post with the words: "I was wrong." LINK

"It was a mistake to vote for this war in 2002. I take responsibility for that mistake. It has been hard to say these words because those who didn't make a mistake — the men and women of our armed forces and their families — have performed heroically and paid a dear price."

On Oct. 26, his former running mate, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), called for the withdrawal of 20,000 US troops after the Iraqi elections in December.

On Nov. 2, former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle called for removing 80,000 US troops, including all of the Guard and Reserve forces still active in Iraq, following the December elections.

The potential '08er who has led the way in this area, of course, has been Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI).

On August 18, Feingold proposed setting Dec. 31, 2006 as the target date for the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq.

Feingold spokesman Trevor Miller is now heralding that Tuesday Senate vote on a provision in a Democratic amendment that would direct the President to submit a report to Congress that includes a "campaign plan with estimated dates for the phased redeployment of the United States Armed Forces from Iraq" as a sign that Wisconsin's Senator has succeeded in persuading the Senate to break its "taboo" about discussing benchmarks and timelines for completing the mission in Iraq.

Speaking of Feingold, the former Rhodes Scholar got substantial press attention over the weekend.

The New Republic dubs him "The Hillary Slayer" LINK in this week's cover story, and George F. Will wrote on Sunday that if Feingold can avoid the pull of Democratic interest groups, he may face Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in 2008. LINK

(Although Will took some slaps as well.)

But although TNR's Michael Crowley views Feingold as "the best hope that antiwar liberals have," he doesn't seem to think Feingold will actually be the Democratic nominee in 2008. He sees him as more of an "ulcer-maker."