Far from being beat down by the November presidential election result, the 100 rural Democrats who gathered in Viroqua Tuesday night were ready to fight against the war in Iraq, against economic policies that favor big business over working people and family farmers, and against the warping of the public discourse by a media that is more concerned about Scott Peterson's conviction than the future of Social Security.

Unfortunately, they don't see many reflections of their grass-roots passion in the state or national Democratic Party leadership. In fact, when Ed Garvey and I met with the Vernon County activists - most of whom were Democrats but some of whom were interested Greens and independents - the response to our suggestion that in this era of conservative hegemony Wisconsin and the United States need an opposition party was immediate and enthusiastic.

They even had a suggestion for who the opposition leader should be. When I was describing what a serious opposition party would stand for at this moment in history - starting with an absolute rejection of the war in Iraq and empire building and going on to a passionate defense of civil liberties and a willingness to stand up to multinational corporations - a bearded fellow in the crowd shouted, "We've got someone who can do it - the only senator who voted against the Patriot Act: Russ Feingold." The crowd cheered.

And they aren't alone.

The buzz about a possible Feingold for President campaign in 2008 is getting stronger. Hotline, the online bible of inside-the-beltway political junkies, just featured a commentary in which editors suggested that Wisconsin's junior senator could be a serious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Noting that, against serious opposition, Feingold ran more than 140,000 votes ahead of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in Wisconsin, a source told Hotline, "He just accomplished an impressive victory in a heartland swing state in a year that wasn't so kind to (Democrats)." The source went on to suggest that Feingold "will be looked at as a new voice for the party as it moves forward."

Over at the www.mydd.com, a popular Democratic Web site, political writer Chris Bowers observes, "Feingold is in an odd position. Even though he has won three terms in the U.S. Senate, he actually is still known as a 'reformer' and an 'outsider,' due in no small part to the constant repetition of the 'McCain-Feingold' legislation in the national media. Because of this reputation, among all Democratic senators, except perhaps (newly elected Illinois Sen. Barack) Obama, I think he would be the best bet to capture the non-ideological reformers that I believe are a key to future Democratic success."

The interest in a Feingold candidacy has even sparked the development of a "Russ Feingold for President" Internet forum at www.russfeingold.blogspot.com, where writers positively gush about Feingold's "courage, intelligence and integrity" and his electability.

So will Feingold run? The man is not without ambition. He thought about seeking the presidency in 2004, but backed off before the contest really got started.

As the jockeying begins for 2008, it is a safe bet that Feingold will again ponder a run. And with the unsolicited support that he's getting from his home state and elsewhere, he might well be inspired this time to do more than just explore a candidacy.

John Nichols' latest book is Cheney, Dick: The Man Who Is President

© 2004 The Nation

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