Kerry and Feingold Form Alliance on Iraq

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., acknowledges applause alongside his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry at Faneuil Hall, Monday, June 26, 2006, in Boston, where Kerry unveiled an energy plan reprising themes from his 2004 presidential campaign. Kerry called for reducing oil imports, increasing the number of cars powered by renewable fuels and focusing on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. (AP Photo/Julia Malakie) (Julia Malakie - AP)

Those positions have made Feingold popular among liberal anti-Bush activists.

Feingold has been openly critical of Democrats who voted to authorize the Iraq war, even those who have since said that vote was a mistake _ a group that includes Kerry.

But Feingold said that was one reason he was so encouraged to work with Kerry.

"Let's face it _ he was our standard-bearer, he had voted for the war," Feingold said. "And yet, I was able to bring him together with me to do exactly what I've believed all along, that this wasn't a good idea, and that we needed to reverse course."

Kerry reiterated his position, dating back to the 2004 presidential election, that he would not have gone to war had he been president _ "wrong war, wrong place and wrong time."

But he added: "Russ made the right vote, I made the wrong vote, it's that simple."

Feingold said the two men started working together on the issue when they both staked a position in meetings with fellow Democrats calling for a timetable to bring the troops back. Neither could persuade the group to go along.

"So we just decided to cooperate in order to strengthen our hand, and not just be operating on our own," Feingold recalled.

"We've worked together on a lot of things," Kerry said. "We share a lot of strong beliefs about how badly the system needs to be reformed, and how screwed up Washington is."

Payne, the former Kerry strategist, said the alliance poses risks for Feingold and Kerry.

"It's a trick for both of them because there's the potential that Kerry can look like he's backtracking, and Feingold has to be careful not to appear to be co-opted or bought off," he said.