MILWAUKEE (AP) - Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold said during a town hall meeting Tuesday that the country's No. 1 priority should be national security, but that it should be balanced with the economic concerns of middle-class people.
The Democratic Senate contender said at a town hall meeting at Marquette University in Milwaukee that his campaign against incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson can be about both issues.
Feingold worked to separate himself from his GOP rival in a rematch that figures to be competitive as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the Senate. To retake the chamber, Democrats needs to pick up four seats if their eventual nominee wins the race for president.
Feingold lost the seat he had held for three terms to Johnson in 2010.
Drawing distinctions with Johnson, Feingold said he supports a security strategy that focuses on intelligence gathering, targeted strikes and diplomacy. Johnson's strategy against the Islamic State group involves sending in a coalition of U.S. and international troops. But, Feingold said, "invading our way to security isn't going to work."
Johnson, meanwhile, said Tuesday that Feingold has a "dangerously weak national security record."
The candidates have sparred recently over a nuclear deal involving Iran the U.S. and other world powers.
Johnson has said the deal will send billions of dollars to a hostile nation. Feingold said Tuesday that President Obama "kept his eye on the ball" with a policy that will stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
On economic issues, Feingold said he supports increasing in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, adding that it would benefit workers and businesses by giving consumers more money to spend. He said that Johnson has said there shouldn't be a federal minimum wage and that it's a point on which they philosophically disagree.
Johnson has said he's not trying to get rid of the minimum wage. He has called Feingold's increase drastic and said it would ultimately cost jobs.
Feingold also discussed
college affordability during an hour of taking questions. He said he supports plans that would allow for student loans to be refinanced and tuition-free education programs.
He said that it would be "un-American" if the nation's leaders didn't pursue creative ways for students to be "relieved of such a terrible debt." The alternative, he said, drawing in Johnson by saying the incumbent didn't believe the federal government should be involved in student loans, means "that you have to be born to the right family, and that's a hard thing to achieve in advance." The line drew laughs.
For his part, Johnson has said he wants to focus on whether the federal government has done harm luring students into excess borrowing.
Johnson will appear at a Marquette town hall Feb. 5.
The Democratic Senate contender said at a town hall meeting at Marquette University in Milwaukee that his campaign against incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson can be about both issues.
Feingold worked to separate himself from his GOP rival in a rematch that figures to be competitive as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the Senate. To retake the chamber, Democrats needs to pick up four seats if their eventual nominee wins the race for president.
Feingold lost the seat he had held for three terms to Johnson in 2010.
Drawing distinctions with Johnson, Feingold said he supports a security strategy that focuses on intelligence gathering, targeted strikes and diplomacy. Johnson's strategy against the Islamic State group involves sending in a coalition of U.S. and international troops. But, Feingold said, "invading our way to security isn't going to work."
Johnson, meanwhile, said Tuesday that Feingold has a "dangerously weak national security record."
The candidates have sparred recently over a nuclear deal involving Iran the U.S. and other world powers.
Johnson has said the deal will send billions of dollars to a hostile nation. Feingold said Tuesday that President Obama "kept his eye on the ball" with a policy that will stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
On economic issues, Feingold said he supports increasing in the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, adding that it would benefit workers and businesses by giving consumers more money to spend. He said that Johnson has said there shouldn't be a federal minimum wage and that it's a point on which they philosophically disagree.
Johnson has said he's not trying to get rid of the minimum wage. He has called Feingold's increase drastic and said it would ultimately cost jobs.
Feingold also discussed
college affordability during an hour of taking questions. He said he supports plans that would allow for student loans to be refinanced and tuition-free education programs.
He said that it would be "un-American" if the nation's leaders didn't pursue creative ways for students to be "relieved of such a terrible debt." The alternative, he said, drawing in Johnson by saying the incumbent didn't believe the federal government should be involved in student loans, means "that you have to be born to the right family, and that's a hard thing to achieve in advance." The line drew laughs.
For his part, Johnson has said he wants to focus on whether the federal government has done harm luring students into excess borrowing.
Johnson will appear at a Marquette town hall Feb. 5.