Doyle won't seek 3rd term in Wisconsin

[undeterred]

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, will not seek a third term in 2010, Politico reported Saturday. His decision paves the way for what could be one of most hotly contested gubernatorial races next year.

Sources told Politico Doyle, 63, did not want to endure a challenging campaign late in his political career. Facing a $6.6 billion budget deficit, Doyle has had to increase taxes and furlough state workers, and his approval ratings have sunk below 40 percent, the Washington publication said.

Privately, national Democratic strategists had worried about whether Doyle could be re-elected and some noted he would have faced strong likely Republican candidates, including Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Rep. Mark Neumann.

Neither Doyle's office nor the Democratic Governors Association responded to requests for comment Saturday, Politico said. With Doyle's exit, numerous Democrats are likely to consider entering the race, including Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, Politico reported. Lawton, who would become Wisconsin's first female governor, has said she would run if Doyle does not.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/08/15/Doyle-wont-seek-3rd-term-in-Wisconsin/UPI-28761250378857/

[elocs]

1. Hallelujah! Great news! Now I don't have to hold my nose and vote for the Democratic candidate

when it would have been Doyle, being sure he would lose.

[undeterred]

2. I can enthusiastically support Barbara Lawton

in her bid for governor, and I will be delighted to re-elect Russ Feingold to the US Senate... 2010 will be a good election year for progressive Democrats.

:applause: :patriot: :patriot: :applause:

[elocs]

3. Doyle was and anchor, he would have sunk like a rock and lost. n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I was NEVER enthusiastic about that guy.

Tom Barrett should have had the nom in 2002, but Kathleen Falk got in & split the progressive vote. I think Kathleen was a planted stalking-horse for her old boss Jim Doyle. I like Barb Lawton fine.

[HDPaulG]

8. Tom Barrett would have lost....

Mr. Barrett was a good Congressman representing his district. That district dissappeared...Then Mr. Barrett wanted to run for Wisconsin Supreme Court...Then backed out at last minute. Don't fool yourself...Tom Barrett is NOT a progressive. He is a kind man (on the exterior) with a "legislator's" mentality...Push an agenda and find common ground. That is his background as a Congressman. As a Mayor in Milwaukee, his record is NOT "Progressive".

Lord help us if Repugs. Walker or Neumann or Dem. Lawton get the office...

Doyle made very difficult decisions during 2 economic recessions that upset his base, but our State is in better condition than most States.

"I quit college" Walker will phuck us up...

[ewagner]

13. Let's see now......

Where did I store that BARRET FOR GOVERNOR yard sign????????

[Dinger]

5. She Will Run And She Will Win

That is all.:) :patriot:

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Ditto.

[hornblast]

17. Just curious, what has Lawton done?

I've happily voted for Barbara Lawton twice now. I like her better than Gov. Doyle. But I'm kind of wondering. what does she stand for? What did she do before she was LtG?

I'm not sure who I'd rather see run for Guv... I like having Barrett here in Milwaukee. You can almost count the number of mayors we had in the twentieth century (after 1930) on one hand -- they stick around. I'd kind of like to see Barrett stay here. I kind of like Lawton, and she seems a natural fit. Oh well, this will be an interesting race!

[HelenWheels]

7. I love Lawton

she'll be a great governor!!!

[Nipper1959]

9. I just hope

that he resigns soon enough for Barb Lawton to raise her visibility in the state as Governor. Doyle did hold the line on a lot of bedrock issues and pushed forward others such as domestic partnerships. That said his management style was pretty much my way or the highway, I won't miss that.

[undeterred]

12. I don't see Doyle resigning before his term is up.

I wish Obama would offer him a nice position so we could get him out early and get Barbara Lawton in.

[hornblast]

19. He "won't pull a Brett Favre."

Or a Sarah Palin. ;-)

[Broca]

10. I can honestly support Lawton

whereas, I had to hold my nose even when I was sure Doyle would win.

[glinda]

11. Have watched Doyle from across the border here in MN. and have liked him

compared to Pawlenty, who used Doyle publicly to pad his image to run for Presidential run. (heaven help us).
I can only compare to what we have had. Blech* IMHO Doyle was a tad better than T-Paw for sure.

[ewagner]

14. Actually we owe Jim Doyle a lot

Remember for his first four years, he was our GOALIE against the full blown radical repub assault. Often, he was standing alone against the onslaught.

Yeah...he isn't exactly MR CHARISMA but he held down the fort until reinforcements arrived.

Thanks Jim....you kept Wisconsin from turning into another Alabama.

[dembotoz]

15. delt very bad cards

I had hopes for more, but in retrospect
i think he did pretty well.

[hornblast]

18. Yeah; He had to help us recover from Tommy! (n/t)

[Broca]

16. More on Doyle

THE IDEAS NETWORK PROGRAM NOTES FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009

7:00 AM Joy Cardin - 08/18B
Governor Doyle announced yesterday (Monday) that he won’t run for a
third term. After seven, Joy Cardin gets more details from State
Capitol Reporter Shawn Johnson and also talks to a guest who says
Doyle's announcement means good news for the gubernatorial race in
2010.Guests: <br>- Joe Heim, Professor of Political Science, UW-La
Crosse. <br>-Shawn Johnson, Wisconsin Public Radio's state government
reporter

Or if you like to start your morning with hearing that militia groups are
making a comeback, dust off your old Posse Comitatus uniform and listen to:

9:00 AM Kathleen Dunn - 08/18D
After nine, Kathleen Dunn and her guest discuss a report released
last week that warns of "unmistakable signs" of the revival of what's
been commonly called the Militia Movement, far-Right extremism in
America.Guest: Heidi Beirich, Director of Research and Special
Projects, Southern Poverty Law Center. www.splcenter.org