Wisconsin Gov. Walker not ruling out a presidential bid
(CNN) - Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin is leaving the door open for a presidential bid in 2016, refusing to commit to serving out a second term. His description of the ideal White House candidate sounds like someone not unlike himself.
"I think it's got to be an outsider. I think both the presidential and the vice presidential nominee should either be a former or current governor - people who have done successful things in their states, who have taken on big reforms," he told ABC's Jonathan Karl in an interview that aired Sunday on "This Week."
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'] [twitter-follow screen_name='KilloughCNN']
Walker, who has a new book out Tuesday–"Unintimidated: A Governor's Story and a Nation's Challenge"–is up for re-election next year - the third time he's run for the seat since he was first elected in 2010. Walker survived a contentious recall effort after he moved to curb collective bargaining rights for public unions.
Democrat and former bicycle executive Mary Burke announced last month she would challenge Walker next year.
The 2012 recall thrust Walker into the national spotlight, and his victory cemented him as a GOP star and potential presidential contender.
Fanning the flames of speculation that he has designs on the White House, Walker has made appearances in key presidential primary states this year, including Iowa and South Carolina.
And like fellow GOP Gov. Chris Christie, Walker declined to commit to serving out a full second term - that is, if Walker is re-elected.
"I don't rule anything out," Walker said in the interview when asked about a presidential bid.
Walker has been a vocal advocate for Republican performances at the state level compared to the work being done in Washington, a strategy that positions him as an outsider.
Karl noted Walker's criteria for the ideal presidential candidate - someone without deep ties to the nation's capital – would knock out other contenders for the GOP nomination like Sens. Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.
"All good guys," Walker said. "But, again ... it's got to be somebody who's viewed as being exceptionally removed from Washington."
By Walker's standards, fellow Wisconsinite Rep. Paul Ryan, last year's GOP vice presidential nominee, also wouldn't make the cut.
"Yes, and I love Paul Ryan. Paul Ryan, if he had a fan club, I'd be the president of that," he said.
But Christie appears to make the list, and Walker tweeted Sunday the two GOP governors would be watching the Green Bay Packers-New York Giants NFL game together.
From CNN Politics
- Progressive group launches $3.2 million advertising buy to push federal voting law March 23, 2021 11:01 am
- US and allies announce sanctions against Chinese officials for 'serious human rights abuses' against Uyghurs March 23, 2021 10:32 am
- Trump's army takes aim at 2022 touting his election lies March 23, 2021 05:01 am
- Why Republican voter restrictions are a race against time March 23, 2021 04:27 am
- Warnock's seat comes into focus amid battle over voting laws and filibuster rules March 23, 2021 03:06 am
- White House aides prep $3 trillion jobs package for Biden March 23, 2021 02:30 am
Yeah just what You need another loser running for President.
"Unintimidated and yet emotionally and intellectually challenged .
Scott Walker / Rick Perry
Brilliant minds working together for a better tomorrow
Let's make Texas Bigger then ever 2016
Add Gov Walker to an uninspiring list of mediocre Republican Tea Party list of presidential candidates. His antagonistic stance against the middle class, unions, teachers, police, and firemen will not serve him well in primaries across the nation.
Oh Yah, he is a Koch Brothers Puppet!
He doesn't HAVE to rule out running for President... He's going to let the rest of the country rule it out for him. Poor college cheat Scotty... Full of himself, and Koch brothers' money.
How about trying to earn at least a bachelors degree first?
Koch Brothers Puppet & Pocket!
Somehow, I don't think he will entertain us nearly much as Governor OOPS from Texas.
This guy definitely has no chance at all..
I don't see him as a successful candidate, but the field is wide open, right now.
These stupid republicans think they have a chance in2016 with their same conservative bs and canadates and this union buster. No matter how much they spend to get the web site fixed, it won't cost 25 billion dallars that the GOP tea idiots wasted in their goverment shutdown, and what did they get for that 25 billion???? NOTHING.
Walker has as much chance as Perry at becoming President.
What an awful man. I do not appreciate hypocrites like Scott Walker who spends a whole weekend with the billionaires KOCH brothers and immediately returns to Wisconsin and attacks unions.
All these "successful" billionaire puppets are focused on only one thing. To destroy the only obstacle (unions) that stand between them and wealthy corporations. Eliminating unions opens the door for privatization of jobs which pay low wages and rewards CEO' s with million dollar bonuses. I wonder if Walker would work for peanuts like he is forcing workers?
The rich are actively attacking the hard working middle class in order to enrich themselves more and reducing workers to modern day slavery!
Walker would be great pick- and a Democratic win. They need to 'double-down'- Jan Brewer of Arizona should be the GOP choice for 2016.
This guys a joke, I don't even care if he attended (never graduated) my university. He's made the lives of ordinary Wisconsinites much more difficult since his massive spending cuts and tax cuts on the rich. And what's his response? Pass a law effectively disenfranchising his political opponents. No wonder my university won't even let him speak here. He's an embarrassment to the State of Wisconsin.
GOP is totally dead. I bet for another Fifty years or so. No one with right mind support this garbage of GOP thugs.
You mean the Scott Walker who quietly cut funding to the technical college system by $140 million and then loudly bragged about a "new" $25 million program to help students get into the technical colleges? You mean the Scott Walker that is bragging that he turned a 3.6 Billion deficit into a $400 million surplus when in fact our long term debt went from $13.2 Billion to $16.9 Billion in the 3 years he has been governor? You mean the Scott Walker that is the only sitting governor with a criminal defense fund and has spent $400K on defense lawyers and is the subject of multiple investigations? You mean the Scott Walker that has taken our state from #11 in job creation to #46? That Scott Walker?
2008-Governor Palin for Vice President–2012 Former Governor Mitt Romney for President. It did not work then and it will not work in 2016.
It would be one of the best gifts ever given to the democrats. Run.
Just what we need, a president with a high school diploma. How low can America go?
We know this guy isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but then, neither was Bush!
@Zolicon you called him a loser? Well I think winning two elections in less than two years in most peoples book that makes you a winner.
Scott Walker will never be president. Never.
He may not be ruling out a presidential bid, but I will rule out voting for him.
I wouldn't let Walker run my dogs bath water........... and I'm not a Liberal.