A while back the Brawler wondered whether Barrett had, or was about to, receive a second phone call from Obama, this time urging him to run for governor. Then comes today's Kind announcement. Has the call come through?
After all, the Obama team has reportedly taken an aggressive role in state races. Surely they wouldn't ignore Wisconsin -- and the Brawler has to believe that Obama would tilt toward Barrett given 1) that's the way most members of Team Doyle would lean 2) as an early Obama supporter, Doyle conceivably would have some input -- and his input would not be favorable to Lawton and 3) if memory serves, Lawton was a Hillary supporter. That wouldn't necessarily be a dealbreaker, but given other factors, can't help. Of course, this would be a fairly sensitive primary for the White House to weigh in on.
JUST IN! The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel waits until after I've posted to write this:
Democratic sources say the Obama administration is paying close attention to how the Wisconsin governor's race is shaping up and wants Barrett to run.
"They've been interested in him running for a while," said one Democratic source. "I'm sure they're concerned about keeping the office in Democratic hands."
To what extent would an all-Milwaukee gubernatorial race potentially dampen outstate enthusiasm? And does Barrett running make the Republicans look at someone besides Walker?
JUST IN! Folkbum, yesterday, notes:
The takeover talk suddenly seems a lot more like Barrett and Doyle (who us no great fan of Lt. Gov. Barb Lawton, the only announced Democrat so far) setting the stage for a state-wide campaign.
The Brawler, from his previously linked piece of clairvoyance, dated September 5:
Given that early Obama supporter Doyle and his team aren't particularly high on Barb "Vote Hillary" Lawton ....and that while Pelosi had apparently given Kind her blessing to run (and Kind's been making the rounds among muckity mucks to gauge support), the D's can't want to lose a seat they don't have to in 2010 ... perhaps [Barrett should expect a call from Obama to run for guv]. I'd imagine Tom could get Team Doyle support (noting how they're teaming up on taking over MPS ... a move that wouldn't play at all badly with out-of-Milwaukee voters).
Comments