MADISON, Wis. -- Gov. Jim Doyle won't be running for a third term as governor, according to unnamed sources.

According to political news Web site Politico.com, Doyle has told associates that he will announce this week that he won't run again in 2010.

Doyle's office said on Saturday that he plans to make an announcement about his future on Monday.

The governor hadn't said whether he would seek a third term, and speculation had been swirling that he might not.

Doyle spokeswoman Carol Andrews wouldn't comment beyond the one-sentence statement issued Saturday afternoon.

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach said on Saturday he hadn't been informed of the governor's plans and would wait to see what he said Monday.

Despite the speculation, Doyle had been raising money for a potential race, pointing to the fundraising as a measure of his intentions. So far Doyle had taken in nearly $1 million in the first half of 2009.

Some have speculated that his decision not to run again might have been sealed when he had to make many difficult cuts while putting together this year's state budget. Of those decisions, Doyle stated in June that, "I have always believed that the people of Wisconsin elected me to lead through good times and bad, to make responsible choices, and at the end of the day, to strengthnen this great state, that's what I've tried to do, especially in this time of economic uncertainty."

While facing questions about his future, Doyle was repeatedly asked about a possible appointment by President Baracj Obama. In response, he would say that he intended to serve out his term as governor and that he hadn't asked for nor sought out any positions in the new administration.

He did have to justify his early discussions with the Obama transition team.

"And so, I've had conversations with the transition team on a whole variety of different issues, but believe me, none of them have to do with positions for me. I am fully intending to be the governor of the state of Wisconsin," Doyle said.

Politico, a Washington, D.C.,-based site, reported that by opting not to run, Doyle "sets off what could be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in the country next year."

Had he run, Doyle would have faced off against a Republican field that includes Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann.

The Politico article speculated that Erpenbach, Lt. Gov. Barabara Lawton, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and U.S. Rep. Ron Kind might be possible Democratic candidates to replace Doyle.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.

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