I’ll have to admit, the current left-of-center candidates to potentially compete against Mr. O haven’t exactly left me thrilled. Don’t get me wrong, I like all of them, but I’m also a realist.

Obviously, a successful candidate would need some star power, and would have to be a little closer to the center (blech) than we would like; which is why a Feingold/Spitzer tag team makes sense to me.

I’m not going to justify Feingold, the reasons should be obvious & probably have been hashed out here before. The man is a progressive legend.

Spitzer, however is a juicier topic for discussion. In fact, I think he’s probably the best shot the “Primary Obama” crowd has in the 2012 Democratic primary. And he would compliment Feingold well.

First, let’s dispel the obvious complaint: that supposedly, politicians who cheat on their spouses are unlikeable. Bullpucky. (Besides, people are suckers for redemption stories; the MSM will eat this stuff up.)

Second, Spitzer is one of the few people in the country with any record of having the guts to go up against the FIRE industry and extract a pound of flesh. He’s got the track record, the knowledge, and the desire to pursue a populist message against the banksters. Watch him here with Taibbi saying Holder should resign if he cannot file charges against Goldman (8:29):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEK4T1Cs8c8&feature=player_embedded

If you thought that was good, read this:

“When a corporation is convicted of repeated felonies,” declared Spitzer, “that harm or endanger the lives of human beings or destroy our environment, the corporation should be put to death, its corporate existence ended and its assets taken and sold at public auction.”

Third, he’s got a pretty good track record on net neutrality.

Fourth, and this is key, he could actually win.

I know he is not Kucinich, but let’s face it, Kucinich couldn’t win the general anyway. But he definitely isn’t Obama. And unlike Obama, he isn’t ashamed of his progressive tendencies, and won’t back down in a fight. In a party where everyone has been bought off by corporate power, he’s the only one who has stood up to them, and won.

Of all the possible candidates who could primary Obama, it is hard to think of someone who would be more formidable than Spitzer; he’d be even tougher than Feingold. And trust me, I’m not under the illusion that anyone could beat Obama in the 2012 primary; but he’d make Obama wet his pants a little. Butthe beauty of a Spitzer primary run in 2012 is that it could be a springboard for a full presidential or vice presidential run in 2016.