From theCapital Times
Feingold, 53, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as reported on its Web page, that he realized he would be a long-shot candidate in a run for the presidency.
He said running as an underdog appealed to him, but not the way it would “dismantle” his work in the Senate and his personal life.
As an outspoken opponent of the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and other Bush administration policies, Feingold had formed the political action committee and gone to key presidential primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
Still, he said he started the process more predisposed against a run that for it.
“I began with the feeling I didn’t really want to do this but was open to the possibility that getting around the country would make me want to do it. That never happened,” he said.
He said he had come closer to making his decision in the past few weeks, and the final factor came when Democrats won both houses of Congress because it provided added appeal to focus on work in the Senate.
I’m a bit saddened by this because I think if it had been possible Russ had the qualities I’d like to see in a Prez…principled and smart. But I respect Russ even more today for chosing to sit this one out and stay in the Senate where he will be able to do more now. And he is only 53 so who knows…did I mention he was smart?
UPDATE: More directly from Russ atDKos