Is Scott Walker the GOP's Barack Obama?

The Cook Political Report ^ | March 4, 2015 | Amy Walter

[2ndDivisionVet]

Scott Walker in 2015 is a lot like Barack Obama circa 2007; he’s relatively unknown and yet well-known at the same time. Obama’s speech at the DNC in 2004 propelled him to rock-star status among the Democratic faithful, while Walker’s victory over the public sector labor unions in 2011 made him a legend among conservatives. The Wisconsin Governor begins this campaign as a vessel into which voters can pour their hopes and aspirations. The question now is whether the idea of Walker can match up with the reality of Walker.

At the annual Club for Growth conference in Florida this weekend, Walker was met by a group of conservative Republicans eager for a candidate who would throw some punches. After two consecutive White House losses, this crowd wanted to see a fighter. Instead, of “Warrior Walker,” however, they were met by “Wonky Walker.” At an 8:00 a.m. breakfast speech, the Wisconsin Governor ticked through his talking points about Wisconsin’s growing economy with accountant-like delivery. He left the room to polite applause. Meanwhile, Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, who have been long-time Club allies and endorsees, ended their speeches to standing ovations.

The flat speech marked a less than illustrious couple of weeks for the Wisconsin Governor. Criticism over his non-answer on Rudy Giuliani’s anti-Obama comments were quickly followed by criticism for his non-answer to the “Is Obama a Christian?” question. His remarks to CPAC on Friday, in which he intimated that his success in dealing with 100,000 protestors in Madison prepared him to deal with ISIS, earned him blowback in the conservative media. Trying to get ahead of criticism that he once supported legal status for illegal immigrants, Walker went full pander on Sunday, telling Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace that “my view has changed” on the issue.

Walker’s quick rise in the polls is a double-edged sword. While it gets him in front of GOP donors and voters who wouldn’t have given him much thought, it also puts a big target on his back. And, it’s clear that he’s not yet prepared for the scrutiny. One top level Republican campaign operative not affiliated with any candidate in 2016 described Walker as a candidate who has “gotten out in front of his supply lines.”

However, there’s no evidence that these early stumbles are impacting Walker’s appeal. While he didn’t get people to their feet in Florida, he didn’t turn them off either. Moreover, it was clear from my observations at the Club confab that no candidate “won” the weekend. A hearty applause didn’t necessarily equal support for his presidential campaign. The Club donors, like so many GOPers, seemed eager to find a candidate who was without obvious baggage or disqualifying positions on key issues.

Interestingly enough, Walker gets a benefit of the doubt that Bush doesn’t get. In fact, while Walker is an empty vessel, Bush comes in as a half-full (or half-empty, depending on your perspective) vessel. Most Republicans have an opinion about the former Florida Governor (‘his last name is a problem;’ ‘he’s got a Common Core problem’; ‘he’s too moderate’), even though they know about as much about him and his overall record as they do Walker’s. Meanwhile, Bush has done a masterful job of looking like he’s campaigning while really not getting out and facing major league pitching. Bush isn’t hiding. He’s giving plenty of public speeches, even showing up at the less-than-friendly CPAC venue. Yet, unlike Walker, he’s deftly avoided the media scrum.

The other big question for Walker is if he’s effectively using his newfound “frontrunner” status for some serious fundraising. He’s got access to and interest from more donors than ever. Can his team capitalize on this? And/or are donors sold on him?

At the end of the day, Walker’s biggest asset is that he’s not offensive to any of the GOP factions. His appeal is superficial but significant. At some point, however, Walker will have to go deeper. It is then where we’ll see if his frontrunner status is for real – or just a flash in the pan.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Before you attack me for "piling on" on Gov. Scott Walker please actually read the article.

[rightwingcrazy]

“he’s too moderate”

Is that what they’re calling it these days? It’s why he’s avoided the “media scrum”. They’re playing on the same team.

[max americana]

“Is Scott Walker the GOP’s Barack Obama?”

Unlike a certain kenyan idiot, I doubt he’ll hide his college transcripts and birth certificate..

[gwgn02]

Walker is less Obama and more Romney-like.

[Major Matt Mason]

If Walker was the nominee, I would vote for him, but with some trepidation. He is buddies with Reince Priebus, not someone many of us here would call a conservative, so I have a feeling that Walker would probably morph into a moderate once in Washington. Cruz is still the best choice to me.

[Yosemitest]

I quote Scott Walker and his PRO-AMNESTY position:

Endorses path to citizenship for immigrant workers

Scott Walker distanced himself from House Republicans debating a new immigration bill by endorsing a path to citizenship for immigrant workers.Walker acknowledged that a substantial number of Wisconsin farms depend on migrant workers, some of them here illegally.
He also was sharply critical of how difficult the federal government makes it for those workers to come to this country.
"If people want to come here and work hard and benefit, I don't care whether they come from Mexico or Ireland or Germany or Canada or South Africa or anywhere else," he said.
"I want them here."
The Democratic-led U.S. Senate passed an immigration bill last week that features a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S.
Many conservative House Republicans oppose the bill, viewing it as rewarding law-breakers.
He said as a gubernatorial candidate in 2010 that he would sign an Arizona-style bill, which would allow local police to stop suspected illegal immigrants.
Source: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, "Endorses path to citizenship" , Jul 3, 2013

Make it easier to enter the country legally

Walker said he is in favor of the Senate immigration bill--that features a path to citizenship--but called it a backward "Band-Aid" approach,
saying elected leaders should make it easier for people to enter the country and become legal citizens in the first place.
"Not only do they need to fix things for people already here, or find some way to do it, there's got to be a larger way to fix the system in the first place," he said.
"Because if it wasn't so cumbersome, if there wasn't such a long wait, if it wasn't so difficult to get in, we wouldn't have the other problems that we have (with people living here illegally)," he said.
Walker's stance on immigration reform evolved over the years.
Source: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, "Endorses path to citizenship" , Jul 3, 2013

2010: stop suspected illegals; 2012: that's a distraction

Walker's stance on immigration reform evolved over the years.
He said as a gubernatorial candidate in 2010 that he would sign an Arizona-style bill, which would allow local police to stop suspected illegal immigrants, if he were elected.
Then, in December 2012, Walker said he no longer favored such a bill, telling reporters that such legislation would become a "huge distraction" from accomplishing his agenda for the state.
Today, Walker said he would support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants under some circumstances.
Source: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, "Endorses path to citizenship" , Jul 3, 2013

[RobbyS]

He’s not Bush, he’s not McCain, and he’s not Romney. What he is is what we don’t know yet. But I give a guy whose has survived what he has not only survived, but is still on his feat is telling. We still have almost another years until the game starts. This is all pre-season stuff.

[Deagle]

Maybe it’s too early to decide on the Republican Candidate?

[Deagle]

Maybe it’s too early to decide on our Libertarian Candidate.

[Deagle]

Maybe it’s just too early to decide on any Candidate!

[RobbyS]

But of course. Only, I wonder how we ended up in 2008 with the likes of John McCain.

[Deagle]

Because idiots that had no idea about politics voted for this clown! We seem to have a dearth of folks that actually know anything about what is going on in the world and so we suffer tremendously! Such is politics!

We have over half of the country that wants free handouts while the rest toil to provide them. Who would you vote for?

[9YearLurker]

Thank you—you know it’s a GOPe article when it discusses Bush, Rubio and Walker without mention of illegal immigration.

[napscoordinator]

Walker is less Obama and more Romney-like.

Silly goose. You were typing too fast and made a critical error. Walker is less Obama and more Reagan like. Fixed it for you. Next time be careful and use your brain and not your desires.

[napscoordinator]

Oh get over it.....you are so 2014. Get with the times. 2015 he has for the millionth time said he is against all illegal aliens and what it comes with. He says he made a mistake. If we can forgive Reagan for actually giving amnesty, we can support Walker 100 percent. I know I haven’t replied to you in awhile....hope all is well with you.

[Yosemitest]

So Walker’s fooled you twice?

[napscoordinator]

I feel sorry for you. You are going to look so dumb when it becomes clear during President Walker’s Presidency that he is the Ronald Reagan incarnate.

[Yosemitest]

If you want a "Ronald Reagan like" President, you choice should be Ted Cruz.

And yes, I'm okay considering, ... age, diabetes, enlisted retirement income only, 22 degrees with about 80 percent humidity, and wind.
Excuser me, while I put another log on a the fire.

[napscoordinator]

If you want a “Ronald Reagan like” President, you choice should be Ted Cruz.

I just don’t see Ted Cruz as Ronald Reagan who was a two term Governor and got a lot done. Ted Cruz had the chance to run for Governor of Texas and turned it down. That was a bad decision on his part. I like him but don’t think he will ever be called President. Of course if he some how miraculously gets the nomination he gets my vote. I just don’t think realistically he would get enough votes. He is Santorum in a lot of ways who I supported last go round but was naive in my thinking.

[Yosemitest]

Ted Crus is WHO the "ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS" AND the DemocRATS are afraid of, AND ... WHO the LAME STREAM MEDIA HATES !
So he's MY choice !