Injured Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett got the greatest of pick-me-up calls today when President Barack Obama called to praise his bravery.

Barrett was struck in the head by a thug with a metal pipe or baton outside the State Fair in Milwaukee Saturday after he stepped forward to answer a woman's cries for help.

Media nationwide have focused on the heroics of the 55-year-old mayor, who apparently broke his hand punching the suspect.

It's not an easy way to get attention. But it can't hurt a possible Democratic primary bid for governor that Barrett's been rumored to be considering now that Gov. Jim Doyle has announced he won't seek a third term.

For daily updates on area politics, keep your browser pointed to the State Journal's politics blog:
www.madison.com/wsj/blogs/PoliticsBlog