The Doyle Legacy and Tom Barrett

When Governor Jim Doyle delivers his final State of the State address in Madison tonight, he will likely attempt to define his two terms in office as well as lay out his agenda for his final year in office.

These ceremonial speeches are usually a combination of looking back and looking forward but when an incumbent announces that he isn’t running for reelection, that daunting “L” word, legacy, suddenly dominates the discussion.

Nobody has more at stake tonight than Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett who the Democrats have decided gives them the best chance of maintaining control of the governor’s office in this November’s election.

Doyle will likely point with pride to his efforts to support education, expand health care coverage and grow the economy; themes Barrett will likely be comfortable building on.

Interestingly, it is difficult to predict how Doyle’s top priorities for Milwaukee, transferring control over the city’s public schools to the mayor and establishing a dedicated funding source for the county’s transit system, will play out across the state.

One of the biggest challenges facing Barrett is that the nation seems to be caught up in a groundswell of discontent; and success seems to depend on which candidate can convince voters he is the most promising agent of change.

It seems to be a bad time to run as an incumbent or, perhaps even worse, attempt to defend the record of an incumbent other than yourself.

You can expect Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, Barrett’s likely opponent, to be licking his chops at the prospect of linking Barrett with Doyle.

Walker has built his political career stoking the public’s distrust of government and abhorrence of taxes. His message of smaller government and greater reliance on the free market is sure to appeal to the rabid right and the Tea Party movement.

At the same time, Tom Barrett’s affability and long record of service also assures him a solid base of support. As usual, this election will likely be determined by the independent swing voters who do not align themselves with either party.

This may turn out to be one of the most interesting races in the country. Barrett and Walker are both relatively well-known and well-liked commodities and voters who seem hungry for authenticity will have a clear choice.

Barrett gave voters a valuable insight into his character when he put himself in harm’s way last summer. It will be his ability to communicate his values to voters that will most certainly determine the outcome of this election.