Why Doyle Won’t Run in 2010

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle confirmed this morning that he will not run for reelection next year citing his belief that serving no more than two terms was in the best interests of himself, his family and the people of Wisconsin.

“I have decided not to run for a third term,” said Doyle. “As much as I love the job, as hard as I work at it and as much as my team and I have to contribute in a third term, I believe that a governor should limit him or herself to two terms.”

Doyle said he would have preferred to wait a few more months but decided it was best to make the announcement now to give other Democrats more time to campaign and raise money.

He pledged that his decision was final and that he won’t “pull a Brett Favre on you,” a reference to the former Green Bay Packers star quarterback who alienated many of his fans by changing his mind about retiring several times over the course of the last several years.

He denied being influenced in his decision by reports that his poll numbers are falling and said he was confident that he could have won if he ran.

“Anyone who thinks they can predict what will happen in a year or more is kidding themselves,” Doyle said. “I’ve never lost an election. I know how to run an election and I’m confident we would have won. But I’ve never liked politicians who say they aren’t running but would have won. The old basketball player in me says ‘oh yeah, give it a go and let’s see’.”

Doyle also pledged to serve out the remainder of his term saying “maybe I’m old-fashioned but I believe if you run for a term then you serve the term.”

He also denied any interest in a job with the Obama administration.

“I’ve made it very, very clear to people in Washington that my interest is to serve out my term,” he said.

He did not indicate any preference for who should succeed him.

“I’ve talked with a few people who may be candidates but I’m going to let the political process play itself out,” he said. “

Doyle made the announcement at the Madison elementary school that he attended.

“This is the site of one of my greatest failures. I misspelled succeed, it has two c’s not one. I lost a spelling bee here and I’ve never misspelled it again.”

Here is the Governor’s press conference, courtesy of WISN-12: