Wisconsin radio talk show host Charlie Sykes interviewed Scott Walker confidante John Hiller on Walker’s decision to end the campaign, and on Walker’s future.
The money quote emphasized at Syke’s website, RightWisconsin, was that Walker “Was At Peace With the Whole Thing“:
John Hiller, a closer confidant of Scott Walker, told Charlie Sykes that the governor was at peace after making his decision to leave the presidential race.”He was at peace with the whole thing. He probably handled it better than anyone at the table,” said Hiller.Hiller, along with Walker’s wife Tonette, was in the room with a handful of close friends and advisors when Walker made his decision. Hiller said that Donald Trump, the 24 hour news cycle, the inability to raise money, and some missteps were the reasons Walker believed he no longer had a path to victory.”This is a very similar scenario to 2006,” said Hiller. “When you don’t have a clear path to victory, it’s in everybody’s best interest to get out.”
But the line which jumped out at me, coming at the end of the interview and which Sykes also quoted, was:
…
“He loves being governor. I think you’ll see a renewed Scott Walker in the governor’s office.”
It may be that Walker is more suited for a Governor’s role, and is more comfortable in that role. Certainly many of us who supported him felt that he just didn’t have the fire in the belly in this presidential race that he showed in his Wisconsin races.
I noted yesterday just before the press conference:
Like Rick Perry, Walker couldn’t make the transition from excellent conservative governor to excellent conservative national political candidate.There is a ton of gloating on Twitter. Walker shouldn’t get mad. When Walker goes back to Wisconsin, Walker should get even by finishing the job he has started.
It sounds like that is what Walker has in mind.
Richard Trumpka shouldn’t gloat too long:
UPDATE: I think this analysis is correct. Walker got out of the race before it caused him long-term political damage. From Harry Entin at 538, Like Houseguests, The Worst Candidates Sometimes Stay The Longest:
Was Scott Walker a bad candidate?Many people are treating his exit from the presidential race after only 70 days on the campaign trail — months before voting even begins — as prima facie proof that he was, and his departure certainly indicates that something went very wrong with his campaign. Yet, I agree with Vox’s Seth Masket: “Better candidates drop out early.” Said another way: It’s often the weakest candidates who stay in the primary the longest….Those who stay in the race for the duration tend to be those who have nothing to lose rather than true presidential contenders. Most of the candidates listed above didn’t hold elected office when they were running and had little chance of appealing to the party actors to win a future presidential primary.Walker had something to lose. He’s young, just 47 years old. He could try again. In fact, he dropped out of the 2006 Wisconsin gubernatorial GOP primary and ran again with broader party support in 2010. Don’t be surprised if Walker tries to do the same thing on the presidential level in 2020 if his party doesn’t win in 2016.
[Featured Image: Walker signing right to work legislation.]
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