Earlier today, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker made it official – he running for president.
What’s more, he is doing so in one of the most crowded fields of Republican presidential candidates in history – a field that already boasts more than a half dozen current and former state governors who can point to executive experience to burnish their leadership credentials.
Despite the crowded field, Walker, 47, plans to stand out as a leader who has accomplished seismic changes in the way his very blue state is run including balancing the state budget, making Wisconsin a “Right to Work” state and the passage of legislation this past week eliminating tenure for normally insulated and liberal public university professors – academics accustomed to employment security divorced from education performance.
He has also scored three election victories in the past four years including a 2012 recall attempt that kept him in office by a greater margin than he won with in the general election.
With an eye on symbolism, Walker made his announcement on the very same Waukesha exposition center stage he used to celebrated his victory over union interests both in and outside the state that tried to recall him from office.
And to punctuate the fact that he will be running a modern campaign utilizing social networks, Internet media, paid advertising and earned media based on interest in his race, Walker began his candidacy with the following tweet.
“I’m in. I’m running for president because Americans deserve a leader who will fight and win for them.”
The Walker campaign also released a video announcing his candidacy – a presentation that highlighted Walkers leadership style speaking to a crowd in an Iowa cornfield, his historic battle with organized labor and his willingness to take on big fights.
Walker’s entry into the race completes the list of top tier Republican candidates to officially announce their runs along with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, Dr. Ben Carson, billionaire developer Donald Trump and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
Because of the crowded field and Wisconsin’s proximity to Iowa, Walker is enjoying high poll numbers in a state that will hold the “first in the nation” caucuses.
After his announcement, Walker heading out for a campaign blitz with stops in Nevada, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. He will finish his inaugural trip with a three-day RV road trip through Iowa.
