Sen. Ted Kennedy, the Massachusetts liberal who died of brain cancer late Tuesday, held a lifelong affection for Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle told me.

That sentiment dated back to the 1960 Democratic primary for president when Kennedy's brother, John F. Kennedy, was battling Minnesota's Hubert Humphrey for the nomination, Doyle said.

Wisconsin's primary was the second in the country, Doyle said, and members of the Kennedy family were ubiquitous in the state.

Ted Kennedy even jumped off the Blackhawk Ski Club's jump in Middleton while campaigning, a move that earned a photo spread in Life Magazine, according to accounts on Web sites devoted to ski jumping.

Last year, Kennedy's January endorsement of Barack Obama for president was an "enormous moment" in the campaign and helped Obama capture the Wisconsin primary a few weeks later, Doyle said.

"It was Teddy Kennedy's endorsement that really showed (Obama's campaign) had broad support," Doyle said. "It wasn't just an insurgency and it had a big impact on Wisconsin."

Doyle also recalled receiving several phone calls from Kennedy over the years in which the senator sought information about how federal laws played out in the state. 

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

Follow Mark Pitsch on Twitter at www.twitter.com/markpitsch.