Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and his wife Mary announced Monday that they are filing for divorce, both for the second time, according to a press release from Feingold's office.
Feingold's office declined further comment when asked how the split may affect Feingold's undecided but potential run for presidency in 2008 or his constituents' views of him.
\There was a time when divorce was a very big deal [to the American public],"" said G. Donald Ferree, UW-Madison professor of sociology and associate director for public opinion research at the UW Survey Center.
Ferree said he ""would be surprised if the divorce itself made that much difference to people,"" but noted that if a divorce resulted because of an extramarital affair, it may be more publicly scrutinized than a marriage that ""simply doesn't work out.""
""A marriage that ends in very bad behavior or an affair-that could be a completely different kettle of fish,"" Ferree said.
However, the release from Feingold's office includes a joint statement from the couple that says they ""are separating amicably and intend to remain very good friends.""
Regarding Feingold's potential run for the presidency in 2008, UW-Madison political Science Professor Charles Franklin said the divorce ""doesn't help.""
""Being divorced in and of itself is probably not that much of a deficit, but being divorced and single is,"" Franklin said. ""Rightly or wrongly, [voters] tend to be looking for something like a stable family situation.""
However, Franklin does not believe the break-up will negatively affect Feingold's image in the eyes of his constituents.
""I think it hurts him a lot less at the local level than in a national, presidential race,"" Franklin said. ""People judge him on his merits. Some may not like him, but they still judge him on his merits, not his home life.""
Both Feingold and his wife, Mary, have children from previous marriages, according to the press release.
Feingold has two daughters, Ellen, a UW-Madison senior and Jessica, a graduate of UW-Eau Claire, while Mary Feingold has two sons, Sam and Ted Speerschneider.
