Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle's announcement that he will not seek a third term in 2010 guarantees that the Badger State will experience what Minnesota has witnessed his summer -- the blossoming of a full-blown gubernatorial race in both major parties. For Americans who like their democracy full-throated and unpredictable, Minnesota and Wisconsin will be states to watch in the next 14 months.

In calling it a governorship after two terms, Doyle is honoring a regional tradition of relatively short gubernatorial tenures. Only one modern-era Wisconsin governor, Republican Tommy Thompson, served more than two terms. Similarly, Minnesota has had only one governor who served more than eight years -- DFLer Rudy Perpich, whose 10 years of service included non-consecutive stints.

Doyle has often struck this page as a Democratic mirror image of Minnesota's GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Their terms in office have coincided. Both were elected promising "no new taxes." Both have had a near-constant struggle with budget deficits during their two terms. The two personable men are personal friends,and have tried to ease each other's budget problems through combining state services -- an effort that has so far produced little result, a recent report found.

Both said as they announced that they would not run for reelection that they would spend the remainder of their terms focusing on their respective state's needs. Since his June 2 announcement, Pawlenty has kept a heavy schedule on the national Republican Party's speaking circuit, giving his critics occasion to question his Minnesota focus. Doyle, an early and vigorous supporter of President Barack Obama, fended off similar skepticism by vowing Monday that he would not accept any federal appointment or leave office voluntarily before his term ends in January 2011.