In discussions with delegates and Doyle advisers, most say Doyle could be considered for the job of attorney general. Before his 2002 election, Doyle served 12 years as state attorney general. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his wife served as Peace Corps Volunteers in Tunisia in the 1960's.
Doyle could get Obama cabinet post
Doyle could get Obama cabinet post, some in state delegation say
Governor was early supporter in key swing state
By GREG J. BOROWSKI
gborowski@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 27, 2008
For the past few days, though, the majority of a potential Obama cabinet could have been seen chatting in the hallways of the Pepsi Center, wandering through hotel lobbies or grabbing dinner on a restaurant patio.
Or, at least according to many in the Wisconsin delegation, sitting at the next table during breakfast.
For those delegates, that would be Gov. Jim Doyle, who by virtue of being an early supporter of Obama in a key state could find himself under consideration for a seat in the cabinet.
In discussions with delegates and Doyle advisers, most say Doyle could be considered for the job of attorney general. Before his 2002 election, Doyle served 12 years as state attorney general.
For his part, Doyle dismisses the talk as idle chatter. And, to be sure, the same sort of talk is probably happening in a dozen other delegations, where top officials fit the same profile.
But at least among some close to Doyle, the chance is seen as real — to the point that they say the main sticking point for Doyle could be the elevation of Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton to governor if Doyle left.
Doyle is said to question whether Lawton, who defeated his favored running mate in 2002, could hold the office in a re-election fight.
“It’s just way ahead of things,” Doyle said in an interview. “People like to talk about that stuff. I know it’s the furthest thing from Senator Obama’s mind. Mine as well.”
If anything, Doyle said, his job as governor would get easier with Obama in the White House — someone who “has a shared vision for what we need to accomplish.”
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a former member of the U.S. House who also is mentioned as a possible Obama pick, offered an answer similar to that of Doyle: “I’m very happy in Milwaukee.”
State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) said she has seen indications only that Doyle is gearing up for a re-election battle in 2010. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker — a likely opponent — issued a statement to pan Doyle’s Tuesday night convention speech.
But Taylor noted that a call from a president-elect Obama would be hard for anyone to turn down.
“If he calls, I would hope (Doyle) would answer,” Taylor said. “I think some of the good the governor has done here, he could implement at the national level.”
Meanwhile, Lawton had little to say about the prospect of an early Doyle departure.
“The life of a lieutenant governor is, by definition, one of contingencies,” she said, adding that she has not ruled out seeking a third term in 2010 if Doyle runs again.
