Jim Doyle: No 2010 Run

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle is calling it quits.

Quack, quack, quack!

He will be announcing this week that he is a lame duck.

Politico broke the story.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has told associates he will announce this week that he won’t seek a third term in 2010, POLITICO has learned.

By deciding against a run, Doyle, a Democrat, sets off what could be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in the country next year.

The governor has been coy for months about his intentions, stockpiling money but at the same time not saying publicly whether he would run for re-election.

But sources familiar with his decision not to seek a third term say Doyle recognized the difficulties he may have faced next year and didn't want to go through another campaign after a long political career.

He’s had to raise taxes and fees while furloughing state workers to help plug a $6.6 billion budget deficit. In doing so, his approval numbers have fallen below 40 percent. And just this week, he faced the embarrassment of seeing his legal counsel quit because she hadn’t passed the state bar.

So Doyle would rather quit than lose in 2010.

I guess he deserves credit for realizing that he doesn't stand a chance of winning a third term.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Gov. Jim Doyle on Monday will announce that he won't seek re-election to a third term in 2010, prompting the state's first wide-open gubernatorial race since 1982.

A spokeswoman for Doyle said Saturday the governor will announce his future political plans on Monday, although she declined to provide details.

...One veteran Democratic legislator who asked not to be identified out of loyalty to Doyle said he thinks Doyle started the year expecting to run, but recently asked himself this question: "Why do I want to continue to do this?"

That's a good question.

Doyle's poll numbers had to cause him to do a little self-reflection.

So many people in Wisconsin don't want Doyle to continue. He's jumping on that bandwagon, too.

...Also, the veteran Democratic legislator said that Doyle is painfully conscious of the angry tone of recent meetings with voters and members of Congress, especially over health care - meetings that signal the tone of the next gubernatorial campaign.

"People are coming to these meetings with pitchforks," the legislator said.

Good grief.

That's ridiculous. It's an excuse.

If Doyle didn't screw up the state so royally and his administration was scandal-free and Wisconsinites were happy with him, Doyle wouldn't be worrying about the tone of the next campaign.

"Pitchforks"?

How lame!

At least this mystery legislator didn't mention swastikas.

...If Doyle doesn't seek another term, it's believed that Democrats Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and U.S. Rep. Ron Kind of La Crosse will run for governor.

There is also speculation about whether Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett might also decide to enter the race.

Spokespeople for Lawton and Kind declined to comment on their future political plans. Barrett was unavailable.

That's a really weak field of candidates.

...Now, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann are battling for the nomination; political newcomer Mark Todd is also in the race as a Republican. Without a Democratic incumbent, other Republicans could jump in.

Neumann, a homebuilder, on Saturday said on Twitter that, "this is a game changer. In 2010 we will have a governor from the private sector who will bring jobs to WI."

Walker issued a statement on Saturday saying that if reports were accurate about Doyle, "It would be the right decision for the governor and in the best interest of Wisconsin taxpayers."

I don't think other Republicans will jump in, not at this point.

Doyle's decision doesn't have all that much of an impact on the Republicans. Sure, it would have been nice to have the disastrous Doyle as an opponent, but any of the Dems will do.

I think the Dems are really at a disadvantage. The struggle for power and competing for cash is just beginning for them.

At least all the speculation is over. Doyle is out.

If Wisconsinites are looking for hope and change, they won't find it by electing another Dem governor.

Doyle dropping out is good news for the Republicans. It's good news for Wisconsin.