MADISON, Wis. -- A federal judge has denied a former state employee's request to stay out of prison while she appeals her conviction for steering a travel contract to a donor of Gov. Jim Doyle.

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa said that Georgia Thompson isn't likely to have her conviction overturned or be granted a new trial.

As a result, he said that Thompson must begin serving an 18-month prison sentence on Nov. 27.

The ruling is the latest setback for Thompson, the former state purchasing official who has denied involvement in a scheme to steer a contract to Adelman Travel.

A federal jury in Milwaukee convicted Thompson of using her position on an evaluation committee to favor Adelman, whose executives donated $20,000 to the governor before and after winning the contract.

Thompson's lawyers are appealing the conviction, saying that key testimony shouldn't have been allowed in court.