Gov. Jim Doyle endorsed Obama two days after the Illinois senator won the Iowa caucus. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett endorsed the senator in April.,”

• Gov. Jim Doyle and Mayor Tom Barrett endorse Sen. Barack Obama
• Marquette Professor said endorsements improve Obama's chance to win Wisconsin primary
• A Doyle spokesperson says Wisconsin primary could be crucial to Democratics
• A Doyle spokesperson says Doyle's sons had influence on endorsement

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) seems to be popular with Wisconsin politicians.

Gov. Jim Doyle endorsed Obama two days after the Illinois senator won the Iowa caucus, the first stop on the road to a presidential nomination. In October 2006, during Doyle's re-election campaign, Obama spoke to supporters at a rally at Milwaukee's Historic Turner Restaurant, 1034 N. 4th St.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett endorsed the senator in April when Obama spoke to an audience of 4,000 at the Milwaukee Theatre, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. Barrett became one of the first elected officials to endorse a presidential candidate.

"Barack Obama is the best candidate to bring about the change America wants," Barrett said in an e-mail. "His powerful message of hope over cynicism, and unity over division, is exactly what our country needs."

Janet Boles, political science professor at Marquette, said Obama's chances of winning the Wisconsin primary Feb. 19 improved with endorsements from Doyle and Barrett.

Twelve state governors have endorsed presidential candidates and seven of them endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Boles said.

Carla Vigue, a spokeswoman for Doyle, said early primaries and caucuses could bring forward a Democratic frontrunner, especially after Super Tuesday (Feb. 5) when 24 states hold primaries or caucuses.

However, if a candidate doesn't emerge before Feb. 19, Wisconsin will play a major role in shaping who the Democratic candidate will be, she said.

Even if a Democratic candidate emerges before Feb. 19, Wisconsin will still be a major stop on the presidential campaign trail because it's a swing state, Vigue said. In 2004, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) won Wisconsin by just more than 10,000 votes.

The endorsements from Doyle and Barrett, the highest elected officials in the state and city, respectively, will increase the chances of Obama winning the Wisconsin primary, Vigue said.

"Gov. Doyle believes the country is ready for a new direction and Sen. Obama is ready to lead that direction," she said.

Vigue said Doyle respects every Democratic candidate in the race for presidential nomination, but believes Obama represents what the U.S. is in dire need of: change. The governor sees Obama as a candidate who's looking towards the future of the country and finding ways to better it, Vigue said.

Doyle's two sons also endorsed Obama and that impacted the governor's decision. She believes Doyle's sons see Obama as their generation's John F. Kennedy, she said.

Obama has invigorated an important voting bloc—students and young people—just like Kennedy did, Vigue said.

Other Wisconsin politicians who have endorsed Obama include U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) and Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton has endorsed Clinton and former Gov. Tony Earl and U.S. Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wausau) have endorsed former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (D).

Wisconsin Senators Russ Feingold (D) and Herb Kohl (D) have yet to endorse any presidential candidate.

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