Good Bye Feingold!

**American Patriot** · August 19th, 2011, 19:15

Russ Feingold won't run for Senate in 2012

Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., making his concession speech to his supporters in Middleton, Wis., after losing to Republican challenger Ron Johnson. (AP Photo/Joe Koshollek / November 1, 2010)

By Kim Geiger August 19, 2011, 8:18 a.m.

Russ Feingold will not run for U.S. Senate again in 2012, the Wisconsin Democrat told supporters in an email Friday morning.

"While I may seek elective office again someday, I have decided not to run for public office during 2012," Feingold wrote.

Feingold served in the Senate from 1993 to 2010, when he lost reelection to Republican Ron Johnson.

Feingold's supporters had been urging him to run in 2012 to replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.). He has also been considered a top potential contender to replace Republican Gov. Scott Walker, whose budget policies have agitated voters.

"I am also well aware that I have a very strong standing in the polls should I choose to run again for the U.S. Senate or in a recall election for governor," Feingold wrote. "After twenty-eight continuous years as an elected official, however, I have found the past eight months to be an opportunity to look at things from a different perspective."

Feingold is currently writing a book, "about how we have too often lost our way as a nation in responding to the 9/11 attacks and related issues," which he said would be published next year.