Raw Video:
Governor's Announcement

Audio:
• Governor Doyle's Speech
• Republican Reaction

• More: Aide Says Lawton To Run for Governor
• Sound Off: Should Doyle Have Run for Third Term?

MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has made it official: he will not remain as Wisconsin's governor after January 2011.

"I have decided that I will not run for a third term as Governor," said Doyle, a Democrat, in a press conference Monday at the elementary school he attended in Madison.

And though he says he might regret the move many times, he said "I am not going to pull a Brett Favre on you."

He explained that he wanted to remain in the tradition of most heads of executive government branches in America: staying for only two terms - though it is not required to abdicate the job after two terms in Wisconsin.

"When I first ran for Governor in 2002, Jessica (his wife) and I assumed that if I was fortunate enough to be Governor, it would be a two-term commitment.  As I thought long and hard about this decision, I keep coming back to this starting point.  As much as I love this job, as hard as I work at it, as much as my team and I could contribute in a third term, I believe that a governor should limit himself to two terms. 

"This is the norm in this country.  The President and most governors are limited to two terms by law.  Most other states have followed this tradition, and largely, this has been the tradition through Wisconsin's history."

Only Tommy Thompson, a Republican, had held a longer term than Doyle, from 1987 through 2001, when he was appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services by then-President George W. Bush.

In the meantime, Doyle says that he will now be able to devote full time effort to his remaining time as head of the state's executive branch.

"There will be plenty of time in the future for us to cry and say goodbye, but we still have a year and a half to go.  I intend to work every single day."

The chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin doubted Doyle's sincerity, and speculated about the real reasons for his departure.

"Low approval ratings and a budget mess to clean up, on top of embarrassing stories such as an illegal legal counsel and a no-bid train contract likely helped convince Governor Doyle that Wisconsin voters have had enough of his failed policies," Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Reince Priebus.  "If he really decided that he would only serve two terms, why was he raising campaign money over the last two years?"

Doyle said he does not want to be considered for any positions within President Barack Obama's administration at this time.

In an interview following his announcement, Doyle was asked pointedly if he would be willing to serve if asked. "That would be very difficult," Doyle allowed. "Because I think you have a hard time saying no to the President."

Obama, as well as two former governors and current members of his administration -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius -- were quick to praise Doyle.

"His tough and fair leadership enabled him to work across the aisle to strengthen education and spur economic recovery," Obama said in a statement.

Doyle bristled at the suggestion he might now be a lame duck.

Doyle said he is focused on getting more done in his final months in office and not what he will do once he leaves. "I'm not even thinking about it," he said of his plans.

His friend and University of Wisconsin Regent David Walsh said he expected Doyle to work as a consultant on energy and education issues.

His departure sets up the first open governor's race in Wisconsin since 1982.

"With him out, it actually allows national forces to come play a bigger role," said University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin.

Doyle was the first Democrat re-elected as governor in 32 years. His departure creates a scramble for Democrats who would never dared challenge the incumbent and Republicans who weren't otherwise considering a run.

Some of the more prominent potential Democratic candidates include U.S. Rep. Ron Kind of La Crosse, who said Monday he was considering a run and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, whose aide said she was running. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was recovering from getting beaten by a metal pipe over the weekend, has been mentioned as a candidate but has not commented on it.

Republicans already running are Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann. Other Republicans who now may decide to jump in include Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Doyle did not immediately endorse a candidate.

"It's time for them to go out and make their case," he said.

Doyle, 63, comes from a prominent Democratic family. His father, James E. Doyle Sr., was a federal judge and his mother, Ruth Bachhuber Doyle, was one of the first women ever elected to the state Assembly.

A Harvard law school graduate, Doyle met his wife Jessica in the Peace Corps in the 1960s before returning to Wisconsin and serving three terms as Dane County district attorney.

Doyle has never lost a statewide election and served three terms as attorney general between 1990 and 2002 before defeating incumbent Republican Gov. Scott McCallum to win his first race for governor. In 2006, Doyle beat then-U.S. Rep. Mark Green.

As governor, Doyle championed stem cell research and expanding health insurance coverage, frequently trumpeting Wisconsin's status as the state with the second-highest percentage of citizens covered.

He made public education a priority and created the Wisconsin Covenant program, which guarantees a spot in a state college or university for middle-school students who pledge to meet certain benchmarks.

But his seven years as governor have been overshadowed by the economy. He inherited a $3.2 billion deficit in 2003 and this year his budget balanced the worst shortfall in state history at $6.6 billion.

The budget Doyle signed into law less than seven weeks ago angered Republicans and many in the business community because of more than $2 billion in taxes and fees. Doyle also ordered all state workers to take 16 unpaid days off over the next two years.

Even under the budget Doyle just signed, the state is expected to face at least a $2.2 billion shortfall for his successor to deal with.

Doyle will be remembered for the budget problems he faced, said Franklin.

"At this point I don't see a huge policy legacy he can point to," he said. "He was so constrained by circumstances."

   (The Associated Press contributed to this report.)