Gov. Jim Doyle met with President Barack Obama on Thursday during a whirlwind visit to Washington that included meetings with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top administration officials.

Health care legislation and high-speed rail funding were on the agenda for some of the meetings. But others listed no topic, including a 30-minute meeting in the Oval Office with President Obama, a session with Pelosi and a meeting with White House political director Patrick Gaspard.

According to Doyle's schedule, the governor was set to meet with Reid, U.S. Rep. Dave Obey of Wisconsin and White House senior advisor David Axelrod to discuss federal health care legislation and "how it impacts leading-edge states." The meetings with Axelrod and Reid included Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

"Wisconsin and Massachusetts are two of the states at the forefront of innovative ideas in this area (health care)," said Joe Wineke, former chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, noting that nearly all Wisconsin children have health insurance in part because of the state's BadgerCare program.

In addition to Thursday's meeting with Obama, Doyle spent time with the president Wednesday as the two flew back together to Washington, D.C. Obama was in Madison on Wednesday to tout education reform.

"Jim Doyle's getting an awful lot of precious presidential time right now," marveled Charles Franklin, professor of political science at UW-Madison. "We were all surprised when we saw him (Doyle) walk up the steps of Air Force One."

Wineke said education was a likely topic again on Thursday. Doyle is seeking a piece of the $4.35 billion "Race to the Top" challenge for states willing to implement certain accountability measures, such as those passed in the Legislature Thursday.

Also on the schedule was a 30-minute meeting with LaHood to discuss passenger-rail funding. Wisconsin is seeking $651.8 million in federal stimulus money to build a high-speed passenger rail link between Milwaukee and Madison.

Mark Jefferson, Republican Party of Wisconsin executive director, said Doyle's White House meetings could be related to a possible gubernatorial bid by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Doyle doesn't plan to run for a third term.

Politico reported Thursday that Barrett had met Wednesday with Gaspard in Madison.

"You would expect this to be a state the White House is very concerned about for 2010," Franklin said.

Wineke agreed Doyle and the White House likely talked gubernatorial politics. But overall, he said, "This sounds like a policy day - it really does."

Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner said the governor, who isn't seeking a third term in 2010, was not pursuing a position in the Obama administration.

The visit to Washington "isn't about seeking or considering an appointment," Sensenbrenner said. "The governor has made it clear that he is intent on serving out his term."

Login to post your comment. If you don't have an account, you may register for one.