MoveOn.org Sees in Feingold a Cause To Believe In

Not since Lt. Governor Bill Halter‘s (D-Ark.) primary race and battle for the public option in the health care debate has MoveOn.org looked this excited. After a relatively quiet election season — the group has made less than $400,000 in independent expenditures attacking a hodgepodge of Republicans like Rep. John Boeher (R-Ohio) and Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul — MoveOn.org has launched a new campaign along with other progressive groups to shore up Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.)’s Senate race and they’ve raised more than $600,000 in the last four days alone.

Feingold, who finds himself suddenly in the fight of his life against deep-pocketed Republican businessman Ron Johnson, appears to be getting love from progressive groups mainly because of the strong stances he’s taken on campaign finance reform over the years:

“These numbers show that — despite claims of an enthusiasm gap — progressives are stepping up in a big way for leaders like Russ Feingold,” said Ilyse Hogue, MoveOn.org’s communications director. “Our members give what they can — $10, $20 at a time — because we recognize what’s at stake: Without these heroes beating back the agenda of multinational corporations and their Republicans cronies, we’re never going to get an economy that works for the middle class and American jobs here at home.”