Sen Feingold Announces Untimely Divorce, May Affect Presidential Race

US Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is considered a viable candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 2008 race for the presidency. He's a principled leader whose legislative passions include fiscal ethics and elimination of deficit spending, affordable healthcare for all Americans, education and civil rights.

He's best known nationally as the lone senator to vote against the USA Patriot Act, despite enormous political pressure to join the other 99 senators. At the time, many thought his vote spelled the end of his career. He's now heralded as visonary for his vote.

On Monday, Senator Feingold and his second wife announced that they are divorcing after 14 years of marriage. The divorce apparently is amicable, so it shouldn't include messy or tawdry revelations.

Nonetheless, many predict that this untimely divorce will end 2008 presidential apsirations for Feingold. Said University of Virginia's Larry Sabato to AP, "The Democratic Party is much more tolerant of things, but a twice-divorced single man would have very little chance of being elected president. This is not something that would appeal to any red state."

Be sure to read my political and personal profile of Senator Feingold. I believe he should still be strongly considered for the Democratic Party 2008 presidential nomination.