2008 Primaries, Views on News • February 19th, 2008

The Doyle-Obama connection

by Chris Lato

OK, let me state for the record this is speculation and nothing but.

With that in mind, play along with me for a minute: why did Gov. Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett endorse Barack Obama so early? Other than what they will say for the record (Obama is inspiring, the new JFK, etc.), do they have designs on potential appointments in an Obama Administration?

Check this article out. It downplays the potential for an early exit by Doyle, but I would argue a lot can happen between now and November, assuming Obama takes the White House.

Barrett is a former Congressman, and that Washington experience would offer value to Obama. And, who knows? Would Barrett like to get back to DC, or is he enjoying running Wisconsin’s biggest city?

The REAL x-factor is Doyle. Would he leave Madison for Washington?

For starters, he hasn’t committed to running again for Governor (I know, I know, they all play coy for as long as possible, and Tommy Thompson was the master at this). Also, the economy is struggling. What better time for Doyle to exit – the next budget will be extraordinarily tight and the choices will be as tough as ever.

Also, if Obama wins - but the GOP builds its strength in the Wisconsin Legislature - the idea of slipping out the back door rather than deal with the headaches brought on by a revitalized Republican Legislature may be attractive to Doyle. At least, as an early Obama supporter, Doyle will have that option to split.

The result would be eerily similar to 2001, when George W. Bush’s victory led to Tommy Thompson making the move to Washington. Stepping into Thompson’s role as Governor was L.G. Scott McCallum, who had a brief and stormy tenure before Doyle was first elected in 2002.

Doyle’s early departure would set the stage for a Gov. Barbara Lawton. I daresay the GOP would be positively delighted by this opportunity to take back the East Wing in 2010. (Full disclosure alert: in 2006 I managed the campaign of Lawton’s Republican counterpart, Jean Hundertmark, who was at the time a member of the Wisconsin Assembly. She won her primary challenge and was paired on the GOP gubernatorial ticket with Mark Green.)

Of course, that’s just my opinion – I could be wrong.

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