Feingold savors long-fought victory on campaign finance
By Frederic J. Frommer
The Associated Press
March 21, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Russ Feingold and John McCain did not get off to a pleasant start.

In 1993, irritated at Feingold's opposition to funding for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, McCain asked the freshman senator on the Senate floor, "Have you ever been on a carrier?" Feingold said he had not.

"Then learn more about it!" McCain said.

Yet the following year, the Arizona Republican called Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat, telling him he wanted to work with him on reform issues after seeing Feingold's voting record.

"You get into this political system and you want to accomplish something. This was a really hard thing to do. It seemed at times that it was almost impossible. This gives me heart in what we do."

Out of that relationship came campaign finance reform legislation, first introduced in 1995.

Several incarnations later, the bill finally passed the Senate Wednesday and is on the way to President Bush's desk to be signed into law. The bill bans unlimited "soft money" donations to the national political parties, typically five- and six-figure donations made by corporations, unions and individuals.

"I'm thrilled," said Feingold. "You get into this political system and you want to accomplish something. This was a really hard thing to do. It seemed at times that it was almost impossible. This gives me heart in what we do."

Feingold jokes that some people think his first name is "McCain," because of the McCain-Feingold legislation, and the Republican does grab more of the headlines. But Feingold said he's got no problem with that.

"It's an honor to be number two to John McCain," he said. "It's been the best professional experience of my life. It's just an honor to be associated with a true American hero."

Feingold has lately been toying with the idea of jumping up to No. 1 -- running for president. Although he puts the odds at 1 in 100, he recently finished a college tour that sparked speculation about his ambitions.

Winning passage of campaign finance reform legislation will help, said Ken Mayer, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin.

"If it becomes law, it becomes kind of the signature moment of his political career," Mayer said. "It will certainly enhance his national political reputation, especially if it works."

Mayer said campaign finance reform would be a centerpiece of a presidential run.

"But there's only so far you can ride that horse," he said. "There has to be some other substance."

Stuart Rothenberg, a political analyst in Washington, said sometimes a significant political accomplishment can be an end of a national stage rather than a beginning.

"So the fact that campaign finance reform passed basically takes it off the table -- it's no longer an issue," Rothenberg said. "Now, Senator Feingold will have to look for other areas to make his mark."

Feingold said that his No. 1 issue is fiscal responsibility. He plans to work with McCain on eliminating "pork" spending, and with Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, on tightening budget rules and budget discipline.

He also cited ending racial profiling and work on Africa as priorities.

Rothenberg said Feingold will always be recognized as a driving force on campaign finance reform -- but whether that will be a positive accomplishment remains to be seen.

"If the courts overturn issue-advocacy restrictions and you're left with reform that emasculates the parties, some might say the solution is worse than the original problem," he said.

That's because courts could overturn restrictions on interest groups while upholding bans on soft money ban contributions to national parties, giving interest groups even more power than they have now.