Gov. Jim Doyle's historically clean ethical record has been jeopardized by recent accusations of trading contracts for campaign donations, and critics are jumping all over the issue.
On Feb. 6, the Republican Party of Wisconsin accused Doyle of securing a $29 million contract with Oracle Software, a company that had contributed to his campaign. This incident followed the indictment of Georgia Thompson, one of his aides who was involved in a contract with Adelman Travel. Doyle's son was also arrested for drunk driving Feb. 5.
Milwaukee County Executive and Republican gubernatorial hopeful, Scott Walker, and his campaign staff said issues they believed to be true all along are playing out.
'His own failures have brought this on,' said Bruce Pfaff, campaign manager for Scott Walker. 'If he's looking to blame people, he should look in the mirror,' Pfaff said. Walker's office is using the scandals to show their candidate's initiative to place people ahead of special interests.
'It's pretty clear that the Republican attack machine is up and running,' said Melanie Fonder, Doyle's campaign press secretary. 'You can see that just by looking at what they're doing.'
Journalism and mass communication professor Dietram Scheufele said Doyle should keep a low profile.
'The best strategy in moments like this is to produce as little news as possible for yourself,' Scheufele said. He likened Gov. Doyle's situation to the way President Bush handled the scandal surrounding his daughters' drunk driving and drug records. Bush's administration made no statements regarding the issue.
'As long as there is nothing that seriously questions his integrity, I don't think some of these minor stories will have a lasting impact,' Scheufele said.
Doyle's campaign staff said they would attempt to draw attention from the scandals to focus on his campaign issues for middle class families.
Fonder said Doyle would continue to talk about his record without mentioning the scandals, because he felt it was what the public cares about more.
Political science professor Charles Franklin said the situation was 'politics as usual,' where reporters and the opposition party were looking for events like this to surface.
Although it is too early for scandals about the Republican candidates to surface, the public can expect to see the Democrats return the attack closer to the November election, according to Franklin.
'He can't expect Republicans to be quiet about it,' Franklin said. 'The goal, from the Republicans' point of view is to keep the pressure on.'
