Presidential hopeful Scott Walker makes pitch in DuPage County

Suburban Republicans turned out to hear presidential hopeful Scott Walker Thursday in DuPage County, though many stopped short of saying their attendance was an official endorsement of the Wisconsin governor.

Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam and state Rep. Patti Bellock were among those at the lunch at Carlucci's Restaurant in Downers Grove. Walker also was scheduled to headline an event for the House Republican Organization in Chicago Thursday evening.

"Clearly he's a Tier 1 candidate," Roskam, of Wheaton, said. While he said he wasn't yet making an endorsement, Roskam said there was a "lot to admire" about the two-term governor who's known for his budget plan that eliminated many collective bargaining rights for the state's public employees.

Walker's message strikes a chord with Republicans in Illinois, said Sanguinetti, of Wheaton. While she and Gov. Bruce Rauner have declined so far to make an endorsement, she described Walker as being of the "same mindframe" as Rauner, who remains deadlocked with Democrats who control the General Assembly over a months-overdue state budget.

Like Walker, Rauner also is seeking to limit the collective bargaining rights of unions, and wants a number of pro-business measures passed by lawmakers in exchange for agreeing to any sort of tax hike.

Darlene Ruscitti, chairwoman of the DuPage County GOP, said this was the third "meet and greet" the party organization had held with presidential hopefuls. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas spoke to the group last year, Ruscitti said, and was followed by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul this spring.

Attendees who bought $100 tickets heard Walker speak for 20 minutes. Shirt sleeves rolled up and suit jacket off, Walker covered a range of topics, including foreign policy, economic growth and the importance of securing the country's borders.

If elected, he pledged to "push for reform right off the bat."

"Voters don't want people who can (just) fight, they want people who can fight and win without compromising their ideals," Walker said, alluding to the 17-member field of Republican candidates, which also includes former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, businessman Donald Trump, retired surgeon Ben Carson and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, among others.

Presidential campaigns can start circulating nominating petitions in Illinois next month, so supporters are likely to start picking sides soon.

So far, only a handful of top Republicans have announced who they're backing. Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs, though not at the Downers Grove event, announced his support of Walker for president on Thursday. Durkin said said he picked Walker because he respects the governor's work in Wisconsin and ability to win big statewide races there that became nationally watched campaigns. U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon has backed Bush.