St. Paul Pioneer Press endorses Feingold, two other Dems (no Kerry yet)

[LTR]

Great endorsement, as the PP gets into western Wisconsin well.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/editorial/9930864.htm?1c

In the U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin we like incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold. Mainly, we're impressed by the fiscal conservatism he has shown over the years. The Concord Coalition and Taxpayers for Common Sense have endorsed him. The National Taxpayers Union noted that he was the only senator to promote an economic agenda that actually cut federal spending.

Yes, we know he voted against the Patriot Act, but Feingold says he supports 90 percent of it, particularly those provisions that gave law enforcement tools to fight terrorism. And we know that he hasn't been the staunchest defender of free trade. But we think he's made good efforts toward cleaning up politics with the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance legislation and has shown he's true to his principles by returning pay raises to the Treasury.

We also don't think that Republican challenger Tim Michels, Libertarian Party candidate Arif Khan or Independent Party challenger Eugene Hem — whereabouts unknown but last seen in the Green Bay bus depot — have made strong cases to unseat a fairly moderate and successful incumbent. Michels, a small-business owner and former Army Ranger, has some good ideas, but his campaign played fast and loose with the facts, distorting Feingold's position on the reimportation of drugs from Canada, earning him the scorn of newspapers across Wisconsin.

Feingold is a strong representative for Wisconsin's — and the nation's — interests in the U.S. Senate. He has earned six more years.

The RW-leaning paper also endorsed Ron Kind and David Obey for Congress. I can't wait to see if they endorse Kerry. This will say a lot.