My goal was to do the best job I could in governing the state of Wisconsin, in some cases making very tough decisions to have to bring our spending in line with the resources we had at the state level.

I am trying to send directions out and keep control of state government for the final month.

It just happened that the course of the campaign went negative we actually went positive for a little over a week and you do the tracking of poll numbers and it hurt us. So the public responded to those type of ads.

I think there can be some disagreement as to whether Kerry really won Wisconsin or not.

I have directed all of my cabinet to work to prepare a transition plan for the incoming administration.

There are a lot of personal things that take place when becoming governor and I am happy to work with him should he ask. I will give him the best advice I can give.

The important aspect shouldn’t be whose administration it is, the important aspect should be how does the state of Wisconsin work, what can we do to move Wisconsin forward.

That’s why I made decisions; they were tough decisions but we shouldn’t feel bad at all – don’t look back with any regrets, that’s how I made decisions as governor.

Maybe politically it wasn’t wise but when people have different view points I think the public has a right to hear it and the public has a right to make decisions based on those view points.

I also do not like the idea of soft money, these issue ads – people don’t know where the money is coming from, millions and millions of dollars outside of the control of a candidate – there’s no accountability.

I’ve said we need to look at things from the perspective of working people and taxpayers, not from the perspective of government and government officials.

Well, Bill, I don’t think you’re going to find many shy people that are in the political business.

My goal was never to get re-elected.

The important aspect as we look at this budget, and as we look at previous budgets, is the budget system – what I’m trying to get at is changing budgeting itself in Wisconsin.

I will say we now, in the polling in Wisconsin, much different than many other races, the public didn’t perceive that we were getting a fair shake from the media.

My goal was to do the best job I could in governing the state of Wisconsin, in some cases making very tough decisions to have to bring our spending in line with the resources we had at the state level.

Politicians are no different than the rest of the public.

I’m not sure a candidate ever feels his message is getting out.

I said during the course of the campaign I didn’t like it and I don’t like the idea of having an opponent’s picture on your ads and it would be nice to see candidates sign a pledge like that.

The tone did take on a negativity that I didn’t like and when you make the decision to go the other way as we did it very directly had an impact, you can see it with the tracking.