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A Badger State Jew-Swap!

Former Sen. Russ Feingold could replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl

by
Marc Tracy
May 25, 2011
Russ Feingold last year.(Darren Hauck/Getty Images)
Russ Feingold last year.(Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

It looks as though Herb Kohl’s retirement may not do net damage to the U.S. Senate’s Jewish or Democratic caucuses. The frontrunners (theoretical, anyway, since no one has formally announced yet) to replace the four-term Wisconsin senator appear to be, for the Republicans, Tommy Thompson, a onetime governor, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, and, briefly, presidential candidate; and, for the Democrats, Russ Feingold, who until a few months ago was, well, a U.S. senator from Wisconsin (he lost his race last November).

It’s still extremely early going, of course, but polls have Feingold decisively defeating Thompson and positively trouncing several other prospective GOP candidates. (Hot shot Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan has said he won’t run.) Mr. Feingold, a nation—the Jewish nation—turns its eyes to you. Help us keep our 12 percent of the senior house!

Marc Tracy is a staff writer at The New Republic, and was previously a staff writer at Tablet. He tweets @marcatracy.