Russ Feingold Discusses the Fifth Democratic Debate

SO, LET ME ASK YOU WHAT WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT TAKE AWAYS FROM THE DEBATE, AND PARTICULARLY SINCE YOU ARE THE FORMER SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN WHICH IS A KEY, KEY, KEY STATE, HOW DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO GO IN WISCONSIN?

WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS AND THE ISSUES TELLING YOU THERE RIGHT NOW?

WELL, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THESE DEBATES.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING THEM.

I THINK THEY'RE GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

THIS IS NOT JUST A GOOD VETTING PROCESS WHERE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW CAPABLE AND DIRECT THE CANDIDATES ARE, BUT THE GROUP OF CANDIDATES LOOK LIKE AMERICA OVER THE COURSE OF TIME.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT AMERICAN WISCONSIN LOOKS LIKE NOW, THE DIVERSITY, INCLUDING THE PRESENCE OF WOMEN.

I WOULD SAY ALTHOUGH I CERTAINLY HAVEN'T ENDORSED ANYBODY IN THE RACE, THE WAY KAMALA HARRIS WAS ABLE TO PRESENT HERSELF LAST NIGHT MADE ME WANT TO SEE HER ON THE STAGE TAKING ON A BULLY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT OUT OF THIS.

WE WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS CONFIDENT AND IS ABLE TO SAY, LOOK, I WON'T PUT UP THIS KIND OF ON FUS CATION THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN SAY WAIT A MINUTE, WE CAN HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS MATURE, WHO IS NOT JUST CONSTANTLY DOING THINGS FOR HIMSELF AND SINCERELY TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THE PROCESS IS WORKING WELL AND WILL HELP US GET A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT IN 2020.

MAYOR PETE BUTTIGIEG SURGED IN POLL IF NOT TO THE TOP, TO THE TOP IN IOWA.

HE'S ON THE MODERATE SIDE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THIS COMING DOWN, AND HOW HEALTHY IS IT FOR THE DEMOCRATS NOT TO GO TO 2020 WITH A UNIFIED VOICE?

I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE ALL UNIFIED GOING INTO 2020.

IN FACT, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT THE RANGE OF THESE VIEWS ARE BEING PRESENTED.

I'M MORE OF A PROGRESSIVE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

BUT I THINK THE DIFFERENCES ARE NOT SO GREAT TO BE A PROBLEM.

IF JOE BIDEN IS THE NOMINEE, MANY PEOPLE WILL REALIZE HE HAS MANY OF THE PROGRESSIVE VALUES.

I AGREE WITH ELIZABETH WARREN AND BERNIE SANDERS ON SOME ISSUES.

BUT I DON'T THINK THE DIFFERENCES ARE SO GREAT IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

THIS IS A TIME TO SHOW WE HAVE A BIG TENT AND OPEN TO DIFFERENT VIEWS UNLIKE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNLIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SO, I THINK IT'S GOOD THAT THIS IS GOING ON AT THIS POINT.