Milwaukee mayor eyeing governor's seat

MILWAUKEE, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will announce this weekend he is a candidate for governor of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Saturday.

The newspaper said Barrett will make it official Sunday that he will attempt to succeed fellow Democrat Jim Doyle, who is not seeking a third term as governor next year.

"You would not be inaccurate to write that," an unidentified top adviser to the mayor told the Journal Sentinel of Barrett's expected announcement.

Unidentified sources close to the Milwaukee mayor said Barrett's team has been assessing what it will take to win the statewide race.

If Barrett does confirm his intention to run, he would become the top Democratic candidate.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is battling former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, R-Wis., for the Republican nomination.

Walker spokeswoman Jill Bader had no immediate comment regarding Barrett's possible involvement in the governor's race.

"Out of respect to the mayor, we're not going to comment until he makes the announcement himself," Bader told the Journal Sentinel.