Remember that Feingold likes McCain, and has said far too many good things about McCain in the past. For Feingold, co-author of the McCain-Feingold Act, to publicly criticize McCain is a rather big deal. I got Feingold's statement via email:
Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
"In a closely fought campaign like the Presidential race, elements of either side can get caught up in the emotions of the contest. This is especially true during stressful economic times. I heard Senator McCain help tamp down the rhetoric at a recent town hall meeting.
"Regrettably, he needs to do more of that. An energetically waged campaign can all too easily slip over into something hateful and dangerous, and everyone from the candidate on down needs to do whatever it takes to stop that. It won't seem credible for the John McCain I know to say his campaign should be respectful, while seeming to look the other way as his campaign employs certain tactics and rhetoric which apparently are intended to appeal to the fears of some Americans."
