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Can Scott Walker halt Donald Trump's rise?
The Washington Examiner ^ | July 14, 2015 | W. James Antle III, managing editor, The Daily Caller

Posted on 07/14/2015 9:11:36 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Scott Walker entered the 2016 presidential race as a conservative who fights and wins. Assuming his announcement isn't totally overshadowed by the Iran deal, the first thing he will have to fight is Donald Trump's hijacking of the GOP nominating contest. Can he win?

The Wisconsin governor is well suited to put an end to the Trumpnado. He offers a blue-collar, can-do conservatism. He appeals to various wings of the party. And most importantly, he can take away immigration as Trump's signature issue.

Walker's tentative embrace of a populist immigration position isn't without political risks. But right now he is the only top-tier presidential candidate who is speaking to the four-fifths of Republicans who are dissatisfied with current immigration levels without derogatory rhetoric about immigrants. The Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., approach Walker has taken pins the blame for our present immigration problems squarely on big business and big government.

Think Walker is unreliable on immigration? Trump has offered no substance as to what he would do about immigration other than demagogue the issue. His current position is basically an accident, coming after hitting Mitt Romney from the left on immigration after the 2012 presidential election.

Current polling makes it hard to avoid the conclusion that Trump's rise has come partially at Walker's expense. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll taken around the time of Trump's announcement had the real estate tycoon at 1 percent and Walker in second place at 17 percent. The latest Monmouth poll has Trump at 13 percent nationally and Walker at 7.

If Walker can recapture the momentum he enjoyed earlier this year after his breakout speech at the Iowa Freedom Summit, it stands to reason he would take votes from The Donald.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues; Parties
KEYWORDS: chamberofcommerce; illegalaliens; illegalimmigration; immigration; mexico; panderbear; scottwalker; trump
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To: bkepley

Hit a sore spot, did I?


21 posted on 07/14/2015 9:22:48 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: Louis Foxwell

I think that’s the whole plan in Trump’s campaign.

It is a glove in the face for all ‘Conservatives’... the true challenge. They have to accept the challenge or get out of the campaign....Trump set the standard and goes in the direction they ALL ought to be going.


22 posted on 07/14/2015 9:23:18 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What is freedom? To have the will to be responsible for one's self. "M. Stirner)
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To: econjack

Republicans are wimps in sissy clothes, politically speaking. They want to compromise. Leftists believe compromise is cowardice. Only a Trump, a Cruz or another all in constitutional conservative who understands that leftists are committed to the destruction of the US gets my vote. Compromise is death.


23 posted on 07/14/2015 9:23:23 AM PDT by Louis Foxwell (This is a wake up call. Join the Sultan Knish ping list.)
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To: cripplecreek

It was refreshing watching Walker’s speech yesterday. Not once did he call anyone stupid. Not once did he boast of his wealth, or of suing someone. It was a welcomed sight after weeks of the circus sideshow.


24 posted on 07/14/2015 9:24:14 AM PDT by South40 ("I probably identify more as a Democrat." ~Donald Trump)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just pointing out, opinion columns on opinion websites aren’t expected to be fair and balanced.


25 posted on 07/14/2015 9:24:32 AM PDT by bkepley
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To: bkepley

The Daily Caller is a politically conservative[2][3] news and opinion website based in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Tucker Carlson, a libertarian conservative[4][5] political pundit, and Neil Patel, former adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney, The Daily Caller launched on January 11, 2010.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Daily_Caller

Boy, it might as well have been founded by Ronald Reagan and Bill Buckley. LOL


26 posted on 07/14/2015 9:25:36 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m chortling. Walker’s announcement yesterday generated all the excitement of a flea circus. He’s a thinly disguised establishment candidate who has no intention of securing the border and will happily go along with amnesty. I see no way he rebounds and look for him to fade going forward.


27 posted on 07/14/2015 9:26:56 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose o f a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: South40

Walker isn’t my guy but I can’t deny that he has class. I know he’ll never take to twitter and call Michelle Malkin a stupid little girl.


28 posted on 07/14/2015 9:27:16 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Sad fact, most people just want a candidate to tell them what they want to hear)
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To: South40
It was refreshing watching Walker’s speech yesterday. Not once did he call anyone stupid. Not once did he boast of his wealth, or of suing someone. It was a welcomed sight after weeks of the circus sideshow.

And he never pursed his lips and made a weird sort of fish-face.

29 posted on 07/14/2015 9:27:56 AM PDT by bkepley
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To: bkepley

Where did I call for it to be “fair and balanced?”


30 posted on 07/14/2015 9:27:58 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: cripplecreek
He's not my guy either. But after weeks of being subjected to the circus sideshow, what a contrast he was.

Michelle Malkin isn't perfect but she is far more conservative than lifelong liberal Donald Trump. And I'm pretty sure she has never given money of any amount to the Clintons.

31 posted on 07/14/2015 9:31:25 AM PDT by South40 ("I probably identify more as a Democrat." ~Donald Trump)
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To: DoodleDawg

It’ll be interesting to see if he can hold his own in the debates. I will be shocked if Cruz doesn’t murder everyone when the pressure is on.


32 posted on 07/14/2015 9:38:42 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (WSC: The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end...)
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To: RoosterRedux; DoodleDawg

Boy Howdy. Princeton’s first year debate completion is named after him.


33 posted on 07/14/2015 9:42:41 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Walker needs to focus on selling his own ideas and not on kneecapping Trump.


34 posted on 07/14/2015 9:45:16 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
While Trump is loudly espousing what we all know about illegal immigration in no uncertain terms, he has nothing else going for him. If he pulls a Perot, I will never forgive him.

Scott Walker is a man of executive action and has turned his State around repeatedly. As much as I like Ted Cruz's Constitutional rhetoric/positions, I don't think he has the credentials or gravitas of Walker. Just hope Walker can articulate his positions well in the debates.

My ideal ticket: Walker/Cruz.

All others are just the usual noise for the GOPe with the possible exceptions of Carson, Fiorina, and Jindal.

Jeb Bush just needs to go away and move to his beloved Mexico. Really, what does he have going for him other than name recognition, pandering to illegals, and a somewhat colored governship in Florida?

35 posted on 07/14/2015 9:46:53 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: SMARTY
"All they gave to do is match and EXCEED Trump's clarity, consistency and courage!"

Sorry, Trump has too much baggage that the MSM will exploit. Better you put your money on a successful governor like Scott Walker or possibly the strict Constitutional Cruz.

36 posted on 07/14/2015 9:51:15 AM PDT by A Navy Vet (An Oath is Forever)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

TRUMP SHOULD GET ON TV TONIGHT.....”THIS IS THE DEAL I WOULD HAVE GIVEN IRAN......”

Hell actually an freedom loving American could come up with a deal better than this one odumbi has made....but they won’t listen to US. But if you got 8 billion dollars....


37 posted on 07/14/2015 9:53:21 AM PDT by TomasUSMC (FIGHT LIKE WW2, WIN LIKE WW2. FIGHT LIKE NAM, FINISH LIKE NAM.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Yep. I think folks are going to be floored when they see Cruz on live TV.


38 posted on 07/14/2015 9:53:47 AM PDT by RoosterRedux (WSC: The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end...)
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To: A Navy Vet

The Bush (Busch) clan wouldn’t let Walker pick Ted Cruz in a million years. That’s what Rubio is for.


39 posted on 07/14/2015 9:59:59 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: gwgn02
Walker isn’t a genuine leader, he’s a career politician who benefits from close relationships with Reince Preibus is all...he hasn’t won over the base because something about Walker is just not authentic and people notice it. Donald with his flaws is a real leader by contrast, self made and doesn’t need to sit on Harley’s for photo ops to appeal to average people. Walker had his high point already...he’s not catching fire like Trump or Cruz with the base.

Good job.

40 posted on 07/14/2015 10:01:59 AM PDT by Digger (Cruz or lose)
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