MILWAUKEE (WSAU) Will he or won’t he?

There’s conflicting speculation about whether Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will seek the Democratic nomination for governor next year. A column in Biz-Times Milwaukee quotes party insiders as saying Barrett won’t run – and that Governor Jim Doyle is quote, “shopping” for another Democrat to challenge Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Dan Bice says Barrett is being strongly urged to run by U-S Senator Russ Feingold and House Appropriations chair David Obey of Wausau.

Meanwhile, Lawton is continuing to get some impressive endorsements. The latest comes from former State Democratic Party chairman Matthew Flynn, who says Lawton will be focused on creating new jobs. Flynn also said Barrett would be a great governor – but Flynn doesn’t think he’ll run. The Journal Sentinel says Barrett won’t decide until the end of the month at the earliest.