As I mentioned last week, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton will be endorsing Fred Wade for Assembly in the 77th district any day now. Unless I am missing something, this endorsement will represent the first time Lawton has ever waded into a Democratic primary during her time as LG.
Which begs the following question: Why can't Doyle, as an outgoing governor, similarly break from convention and endorse Chris Larson, who is running against Sen. Jeff Plale in a Dem primary in South Milwaukee. As I've noted before, Doyle is rumored to already be working behind the scenes against Plale, who he holds responsible for derailing the Clean Energy Jobs Act, the environmental legislation that was supposed to be the governor's legacy-maker.
Doyle's political career in Wisconsin is likely over. He leaves office as an unpopular governor in his 60's. Although he might still be looking for some kind of position in D.C., his participation in state legislative politics will unlikely affect his chances on that front. Will the president really care who Doyle endorses in a Milwaukee primary? Why pull your punches guv?
The answer is likely that the DPW does not want intra-party squabbles distracting activists from the ultimate goal of keeping the legislature blue. Plale's district is solidly Democratic, and hence, in Mike Tate's view, should have no place on the agenda for prospective volunteers or contributors. Doyle, therefore, might feel obligated to not cause problems for the people who got him elected, even if it means protecting people who messed up one of the big purposes he was in office.
The situation must be painful for Doyle since the Plale race is one of the only contests in which he could be an asset to a candidate. In districts in which Republicans are competitive, Doyle's support is as toxic as the gases the Clean Energy Jobs Act sought to reduce. Have you seen the GOP's anti-Barrett ads?
Blogging Blue takes a look at who has been giving to Jeff Plale's campaign. The interests supporting him are almost rubbing the downfall of the CEJA in Doyle's face. You going to take that Jimmy?