Doyle spokesman Dan Leistikow said the governor is on record pace in raising money for re-election, outpacing former Republican Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, who had nearly completed his fourth term as governor when he was appointed U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services in 2001.

Jay Heck, executive director of clean-government watchdog group Common Cause of Wisconsin, has put a $36 million overall price tag on the 2006 campaign.

But Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, who announced his candidacy last week for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, criticized the fund-raising.

"While Gov. Doyle was shaking down special-interest groups in Madison at a record pace, we were putting together three straight budgets that froze property taxes and reformed government," Walker said.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green, (R-Wis.), transferred $1.3 million last week from his federal campaign fund to his new state account for an expected campaign for governor.