AP source: Doyle won't seek re-election

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A person who was informed of the decision tells The Associated Press that Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle will not seek re-election in 2010.

The person, who was not authorized to announce the decision, told The AP that Doyle would make it public in a Monday news conference. The person says Doyle will serve out the rest of his four-year term.

Doyle's office had released a one-sentence statement Saturday saying he would announce his future plans Monday. Because he has not committed to seeking a third term, speculation has swirled he would not run again.

Doyle spokeswoman Carol Andrews would not comment beyond Saturday's statement.

There is already a crowded field of Republican candidates for governor, most notably Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann.

Should Doyle not run, expected Democratic candidates include U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Lawton has said she would run if Doyle does not. Lawton spokesman Ben Nuckels had no comment Saturday.

It's been a rough year for Doyle.

Faced with a record high $6.6 billion budget shortfall, Doyle raised anger among Republicans and the business community for increasing a variety of taxes. Doyle also upset state employees by mandating 16 days of unpaid leave over the next two years.

But he avoided raising general sales or income taxes, a move many saw as a sign he was positioning himself for another run. He also has been aggressively raising money, having collected $2 million to date.

The state's economy has also been struggling this year under Doyle's watch.

General Motors pulled out of Janesville in April, Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson has said it would cut hundreds of jobs and Chrysler plans to pull out of Kenosha in 2010.

Doyle has also had to deal with his chief legal counsel's resignation earlier this month because she was not a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.

Charles Franklin, professor of political science at University of Wisconsin-Madison, said he wouldn't be surprised if Doyle chose not to run.

"He's had to govern under very difficult circumstances," he said. "It's not at all clear anybody could have been a very popular governor given the budget and economic crises he faced in both terms."

Franklin, also co-developer of pollster.com, said Doyle struggled with getting an approval rating higher than 50 percent. In the past few months, it's fallen into the low 30s, he said.

If Doyle bows out, it would give Democrats an opportunity to set a new course for the state, rather than defending Doyle's record, Franklin said.

State Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus said he also wouldn't be surprised if Doyle decided not to continue, citing the low approval ratings.

Walker released a statement saying it would be in the best interest of taxpayers for Doyle not to seek a third term.

"Wisconsinites want government to live within its means and to set spending priorities that reflect their priorities, rather than seek ever increasing amounts of taxpayer funds for programs that serve few if any," Walker said.

A call to the Neumann campaign was not immediately returned Saturday.

The son of a federal judge, Doyle has never lost a statewide election. He served three terms as attorney general before running for governor the first time in 2002. Doyle has been a strong advocate for stem cell research, expanding state health insurance coverage and high-speed rail.

Doyle was an early backer of President Barack Obama and campaigned aggressively in Wisconsin and across the country.