• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Politics / Govt / Party leaders react to Lawton decision

Party leaders react to Lawton decision

October 27, 2009 By Bob Hague

Officials with Wisconsin political parties reacted Monday to Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton’s decision to drop out of the race for governor.

Lawton cited “very personal reasons” in deciding to withdraw from the race for governor. Could those reasons have been a lack of support from Governor Jim Doyle, and rumors that the White House has been pressuring Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to enter the race? “I don’t know that that’s it,” said State Democratic Party chairman, Mike Tate. “Whatever it is, it’s a personal and private decision. I don’t think it’s my place to speculate, on whether it was lack of support . . . that caused her to make this decision.”

But state Republican Party executive director Mark Jefferson thinks the timing of Lawton’s announcement is interesting. “It is a little bit interesting that this comes shortly after Governor Doyle really refused to give her a very high recommendation in her run for governor,” Jefferson said.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:05 MP3)

Last week, Doyle gave a lukewarm assessment of Lawton’s achievements as lieutenant governor, and Monday, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist reported that White House poll numbers indicate Barrett would beat either Republican candidate, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker or former Congressman Mark Neumann.

“It’s clear that she was not Governor Doyle’s first choice,” said the GOP’s Jefferson. “There’s going to be a lot of speculation that the Democrats are trying to clear the field for their chosen candidate, and that chosen candidate could very well be Tom Barrett.”

“We need to have a candidate for governor sooner rather than later,” acknowledeged the Democrat’s Tate. “I think Mayor Barrett would be a fantastic candidate for governor.” Barrett, meanwhile, said he’s still undecided about a run for governor. Appearing in Madison Monday at about the same time Lawton’s announcement broke, Barrett said he was surprised by the development. Still, he’s made no decision yet on whether he’ll seek the Democratic nomination in 2010. Barrett said it takes time to sort things out, but he understands that “time is of the essence” and he’ll be making a decision in the near future. With the election still a year away, Barrett said there’s still plenty of time to mount a very aggressive campaign if he decides to run.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Politics / Govt Tagged With: Scott Walker



Featured Stories

Evers delivers State of the State address

Abortion rights rally highlights Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

Evers issues promised TikTok ban

Johnson, Baldwin both vote ‘yes’ to avert rail strike

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

Williams likely out for the season with broken hand

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC