Posted on 01/25/2015 4:57:52 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
DES MOINES, Iowa — Scott Walker’s stock is soaring after a triumphant return to Iowa.
The Wisconsin Republican governor delivered a pitch-perfect speech to a room packed with influential Hawkeye State conservatives on Saturday, walking them through his robust resume and ideology with a passion that surprised many.
Activists say Walker came out on top after 10 hours of candidate speeches.
“It was a clear Walker victory. He had expectations coming in here, he was on everyone's shortlist and he had to meet those expectations and I thought he far exceeded them,” said former Iowa Republican Party political director Craig Robinson. “I thought his speech was just perfect, and I thought his delivery was perfect. The delivery really surprised me.”
Walker held his own against Ted Cruz, the event’s other star. While the Texas senator always turns in commanding performances with conservative crowds, the governor next door helped himself the most by making a strong first impression with many Iowa activists who simply knew him from his showdown with the unions.
He offered something for almost every type of conservative, rolling through his record of both social and fiscal accomplishments, drawing big applause by knocking “radical Islamic terrorists” and touting legislation he backed to relax gun control laws and cut taxes.
He spoke about his faith in a natural way, and in one sentence managed to mention that he was both the son of a pastor and had Iowa roots (Walker spent his early years in the state before his dad moved to a church in Wisconsin).
Most importantly, he did it all with a folksy yet fiery delivery that had observers gushing and brought the crowd to their feet.
The biggest question surrounding Walker heading into the weekend is whether his charisma could stack up against the other White House contenders. It was a worry Walker shared — one Republican who talked to him backstage said the governor expressed concern that people would view him as “bland.” But as the strode onstage with his shirt sleeves rolled up and paced about the floor, those worries vanished.
“Walker found a way to talk about himself, talk about the country and talk about Iowa in perfect proportionality, and he did so with a style that was very easy and engaging,” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “He connected to these people — you could see it.”
Iowa GOP power brokers say Walker has also performed well in casual conversations and private meetings.
“He was quite impressive in terms of him talking about specifics about what he’s done in Wisconsin and the kind of leader he was,” said Iowa Republican National Committeeman Steve Scheffler, who met with Walker last week at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting in San Diego. “People want somebody like him who has a track record and isn’t afraid to take on the powers that be, whether that be Scott Walker or whoever.”
Walker hasn't had the luxury of spending as much time in Iowa as some of the other candidates who spoke on Saturday, thanks to his own competitive reelection he first had to survive last November. And, like every candidate, he still has plenty of work to do in the inaugural state with just over a year until the pivotal caucuses.
While he’s landed two top GOP strategists with Iowa experience in former Republican National Committee Director Rick Wiley and David Polyansky, a Texas-based strategist who was a top advisor for Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), he still hasn’t hired a full-time Iowa staffer.
Some Iowa conservatives also say he needs to develop more knowledge on topics he hasn’t dealt with as governor.
“He was very personable. When the questions were about his resume he was really good because he has a pretty good resume. When the questions got into a broader context about policies beyond his resume his answers were pretty canned, pretty typical formula talking points,” said Iowa conservative radio host Steve Deace, who interviewed Walker on Saturday. “It’s his first time out as a candidate but I do think he’ll have to provide a lot more substance on issues than when I got a chance to talk to him.”
But Walker made a big splash in his first Iowa appearance of 2015, stealing the spotlight from his likely foes.
“That's the first time I've ever heard him live and he was tremendous. It was a great speech,” said Sam Clovis, a conservative kingmaker and the GOP’s 2014 nominee for state treasurer. “That was something special.”
My DREAM ticket is WALKER/CRUZ, Walker has COURAGE he is my #1
guy after watching him stand his ground with the unions and succeed, be
recalled, and succeed, THIS IS MY GUY!!!!!! No changing my mind this guy has been through it ALL and SUCCEEDED enough said!!!!!!!
FYI Cruz is on record as being for huge increases in H-1b visas
At this time, I am a Walker supporter: he’s governed with results, he’s a yankee, he’s smart, he has charisma (I saw him on TV yesterday and was impressed with presentation).
And like you, I like his voice. Cruz has irritating voice. I like Cruz other than his irritating voice. To me, both men have guts, and Americans like gutsy leaders. Reagan had guts. Let’s see if NC goes with Walker.
Not to mention H-1b visa increases.
Cruz and Walker, both good candidates. Still at this time, Cruz is still a tad more conservative, and needs to be our choice.
This is going to be problematic though. I think even voters without degrees expect their President to have a college degree. We haven't had a President without at least a bachelor's degree since Truman.
Why do you expect someone else to do you homework for you?
And who is ‘us’?
You think because you’re enamored with a politician who has done a few good things and you haven’t bothered to do the full analysis that your guy gets a pass?
Well here you go smart guy:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3250330/posts?page=95#95
And I remember reading about everyone of those incidents. Did that turn me off from Walker? No. Are they true? Yes. Did I just assume they are true? No. I always look at the source and the agenda behind the source, then make a preliminary diagnosis while sitting back and watch the evidence pile up one way or the other.
Walker is not the guy to save the sinking ship that is America. He’s the guy to run the ship when it’s seaworthy.
Cruz is the guy to save the ship. Walker comes later.
I doubt voters care one bit about it, there are too many non-degreed successful people out there.
As you mentioned, it’s coming from ‘The Hill’ and that’s all that anyone in the know needs to know.
The Hill is a shill for establishment uniparty types. Of course they are promoting Walker because Walker is ‘pliable’.
Oh please what tripe! Have you read the actual amendments to immigration reform that Ted Cruz proposed? You know all his amendments were shot down by Reid right?
Now go and find the amendments and post them back here. They are not too long in length.
And of course America needs H1-B visas for the world’s top talent. We need them in America enjoying what America has to offer and not in Iran, Russia, China, India or anywhere in Europe.
Look at Tesla, Einstein, Gödel, Von Braun and countless others who we have ***attracted*** to our shores. That’s what Cruz is saying.
It’s called ‘cornering the market on brains’.
Because many of the early primaries are still open primaries, in which Dimocrats can vote for Republican candidates, the nominee will be a GOPe approved candidate.
And we all know what the e in GOPe stands for: excrement.
The reason why their is a shortage because the "captains of industry" do not want to pay a wage that attracts US citizens.
Let's target your livelihood and career with a third world invasion to suppress your standard of living. Screw you and all other amnesty loving traitors.
With fellow Americans like you who needs enemies....
their = there. My bad. This is paying homage to the Free Republic grammar Nazi’s.
You’re talking about the democrat’s and the GOP establishment’s version of immigration reform. That is NOT the version that Ted Cruz proposes.
It has to do with TOP TALENT, not 3rd world worker bees.
We ALREADY have enough top talent in the USA. Get it?
Walker has been neck-deep fighting (and winning) the battles that he was hired to fight.
We need all we can attract. By cherry picking top talent we deny them to our enemies.
Pure BS. Propaganda. This is about wage suppression and targeting your fellow Americans. Thanks GOPe. Sometimes intelligent people often fall for propaganda, don't worry you are not alone.
The unemployment rate for IT is higher than the national average.
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