What is Madigan thinking?

Having a governor and a U.S. senator leave office created a ripe opportunity for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to climb the political ladder - yet she chose not to.

So, what is Madigan thinking?

To hear her tell it, she has a job she loves and a family, including two small children, she wants to be with.

"At the end of the day..." the 42-year-old Chicago Democrat told reporters Tuesday, "I have a job that I am deeply committed to, and extraordinarily satisfied by, and not everyone can say they have a job they love, and have a wonderful family they love as well. So that's how I came to the decision."

But it was still an "agonizing" decision, she said.

And it is only complicated publicly by her father, longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who has in the past used his formidable campaign fundraising and organizing apparatus to her benefit.

Many have speculated that the elder Madigan would be pressured to step down from the House and as Illinois Democratic Party chairman for his daughter to move higher.

Another potential consideration is the belief in many political circles that 2010 is not shaping up as a good year for Democrats.

Speaker Madigan has recalled with horror the 1976 Democratic primary for governor in which incumbent Gov. Dan Walker was ousted but the political bloodbath opened the door for Republicans who then held the governor's office for a generation.

But Lisa Madigan denied Wednesday that her father's position or extensive political calculations played a role in her decision.

"I made a decision about what was best for me, what was best for my family, and what I ultimately thought was best for the state at this point," she said.

Asked what role her children played in her decision, she made a veiled reference that a Senate or governor's job would take her away from her family. "Obviously, it factored in," she said, "Obviously, I'm cognizant of the fact that we have two wonderful, little daughters, and I want to be around to see 'em."

Several political observers and even Republican politicians found little reason to question Madigan's reasoning, however shocking the decision may have been.

"Politics is something that breeds conspiracy theories and there are going to be all sorts of armchair quarterback questions," said House Republican leader Tom Cross, who opposes Madigan's father at the Statehouse. "But I have every reason to believe her. I guess maybe that is because I struggled myself with those questions."

Cross' name has been tossed around as a potential statewide candidate. He is also married with two young children.

Currently, Madigan largely works downtown and lives in Chicago. A bid for governor or U.S. Senate would likely take her away from the family's daily life for 18 months or longer.

If she won and went to Washington, D.C., Madigan could expect to spend five nights a week or more on the East Coast while having to devote the weekend to attending state functions.

As governor, she would likely have to move to Springfield and the job undoubtedly would take up more time.

Former Gov. Jim Edgar said he understands. "Politicians are people and personal considerations often trump political considerations," Edgar said.

"She has a young family," he added. "It is a very legitimate reason."

Several political observers say they simply see no other reason to not run for higher office in her case.

"It is always very difficult to predict what people will do because these are very personal decisions," said Dick Simpson, political science department director at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Paul Green, political professor at Roosevelt University, agrees. "I know a lot of political families," he said. "It is hard."

- Daily Herald State Government Editor John Patterson contributed to this report.