Walker says he sees gaps in potential 2016 GOP field
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday that he is seriously considering running for president because he sees gaps in the field of likely Republican candidates, and that he doesn't have a problem with being branded as bland or uncharismatic.
Walker's comments on WTMJ radio came after he delivered a well-received speech at a conservative summit in Iowa on Saturday, surprising many critics with an energetic address where he moved around the stage with his sleeves rolled up, talking about leading an American revival.
And on Tuesday, Walker announced the formation of Our American Revival, a tax-exempt group that can raise unlimited amounts of money to help boost a potential presidential run. Along with that, he released a campaign-style video and launched a website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.
During Wednesday's radio interview, Walker compared concerns he has over the future of the country with worries he had about the state before he ran for governor in 2010. He said earlier this month that he was praying about whether to get into the presidential race, and he would have to feel called to run before he would do it.
Walker said when he assessed who was talking about stepping up to address the country's problems, "I see a lot of good people out there, but I see gaps."
Walker repeated his arguments, which he also made in Iowa and in other national speeches, that the next president should be someone from outside Washington with a proven track record. Walker also said he was fine with being viewed as lacking charisma.
"The media is going to peg any prospective candidate with a tag," said Walker, a 47-year old son of a preacher. "I'd rather have bland or uncharismatic than dumb or ignorant, or corrupt or any of the other things that they could label other would-be candidates out there, or old for that matter."
Referring to the well-received Iowa speech, he added, "We may have pushed that narrative off to the side after Saturday."
As he's eyeing the presidential run, Walker has also made a flurry of huge announcements in Wisconsin in advance of releasing his two-year budget plan on Tuesday.
Last week he rejected a Menominee Tribe request to build a new $800 million casino near the Illinois border. A group of bipartisan lawmakers, including the Republican speaker of the Assembly, sent him a letter Wednesday urging Walker to reconsider.
On Monday, he said he planned to cut funding to the University of Wisconsin System by $300 million to help solve a projected $2 billion budget shortfall. And on Tuesday he backed a plan to float $200 million to help build a new basketball arena for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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