CLARIFICATION: Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton has not confirmed that she will not run for Lt. Governor again.
While there has been much excitement surrounding the recent rumors of Gov. Jim Doyle working in President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet, the idea seems to fall short of not only reality, but practicality as well. The likelihood of Obama choosing Doyle for a cabinet position is nothing short of irrational. The lack of reasoning would be if Doyle decided to accept it, due to a variety of federal and state factors.
It seems very probable that had Obama offered him a position, it would be that of Attorney General. This would be more than a perfect fit for Doyle, considering his relationship with the future president, as well as his twelve-year experience as Wisconsin Attorney General. However, with Obama's pick of Eric Holder as Attorney General Tuesday, Doyle's place is best served elsewhere, specifically in Madison.
Despite these accolades and circumstances, Doyle's role as governor of Wisconsin seems too valuable to eliminate, even in the face of presidential employment. The state of Wisconsin currently faces a budget deficit of $3 billion, something that it might have a hard time improving under a sudden change of leadership. Doyle was one of the first key figureheads to endorse Obama - as early as his victory in the Iowa caucuses. One of Doyle's main reasons for supporting Obama was due to his progressive economic ideals, which seemed like the best option for reshaping our financial warzone of a country. Were Doyle to step down from the Governor's office, he would, in a way, contradict some of those very ideals by abandoning a state that desperately needs him to salvage its economy.
Whether relevant to the budget or not, Doyle has made it appear quite certain that he is planning to run for re-election in 2010. There has been no decline in his efforts to raise money. Aside from fundraising implications supporting the notion of Doyle wanting to remain Governor, his weak relationship with Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton makes Doyle's chances of leaving even less plausible. Doyle was always much closer with former Sen. Kevin Shibilski (D-WI), who he in fact supported against Lawton for the Lieutenant Governor race in 2002.
Had Shibilski been victorious and became Lieutenant instead of Lawton, Doyle's likelihood of working under Obama may have been somewhat stronger. He would most likely feel much more comfortable leaving Wisconsin, even in a state of economic disarray, under the watch of an individual who he supported and has closer ties with. Due to the situation, though, this is not the case. This lack of political familiarity between Doyle and Lawton is confirmed by her statement to not return as Lieutenant Gov. in 2010, a decision that she made last spring. It appears to be in correlation to her quiet relationship with Doyle, considering that she did still express interest in running for governor in 2010 should Doyle not be interested.
These personal circumstances in combination with the fragility of Wisconsin and its economy are undoubtedly why Doyle was more than hinting toward retaining his current job rather than making plans to serve under Obama. Using phrases such as I don't want it"" and ""It's not what I want"" seem to paint a picture that cannot be interpreted in any other way. The rejection of the position may be tough for many to swallow, considering how superlative a nation under Attorney General Jim Doyle does seem, but the crucial economic status of Wisconsin is far too valuable to put at risk. While this may be a letdown to many, the fact that Doyle will now have a Democratic president to support his actions is something to be more than excited about, considering that it will be the first time in his career as governor.
Dan Josephson is a senior majoring in political science and legal studies. We welcome your feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
