Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett: "Urban Folk Hero"

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett: "Urban Folk Hero"

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett: "Urban Folk Hero"

Posted By Josh Goodman | August 24, 2009

12486_barrett0904 As the Associated Press notes, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has gained some notoriety ahead of a potential bid for governor, but, for all of the aspiring politicians out there, don't try this at home:

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Milwaukee's mayor has bloody cuts on his face, smashed teeth and a fractured hand -- but he's not exactly hurting politically. Ever since he confronted a metal-bar wielding man near the state fair, Tom Barrett has become a sort of urban folk hero, with T-shirts comparing him to Superman or saying ''Our Mayor Ain't No Cream Puff.''

President Barack Obama gave him a get-well call, and some are saying the status might help, at least temporarily, if he decides to run for governor.

''That story is a great story for any candidate, and they'd love to have that,'' said University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin.