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.”
Another Shamnesty pimp. No thanks.
Does not history teach that the candidate that makes it big in Iowa ends up as a loser?
Huckabee..... others
But neverthr less........ go Rick!
what we are going to learn is that you don’t matter
I don’t think he made a “splash.”
His history and his successes have made an impression and his talk showed he can walk and chew gum.
Now he needs to prove that his leadership can translate to the national stage and 2016.
The idiot who trashed Walker yeserday should show up soon (spit)
I like Walker.
Hmmmmm....The Alphabet media is obviously building up Walker for some reason. It looks like the strategy this election will be the same as last: build up, then take out conservative Republicans one at a time, until none is left standing. I wonder what they think they have in reserve to use to destroy Walker?
The Dropkick Murphy’s aren’t happy about this. It’s a shame, I like their music.
This article is from The Hill.
Wait and read this thread at the end of the day.
Walker is a viable candidate but he’s no superstar. That description is reserved for a once in a generation contender named Cruz.
I like Walker but he’s too full of compromise; ‘TOO’ full of it. He will not do more for the USA as President as did GW Bush who also hailed in as a Governor who was ‘Conservative’.
We don’t need a ‘nuts and bolts’ guy like Walker as Commander in Chief. That position is reserved for a leader who can ‘reignite the miracle that is America’. Walker would be more suited to stay in Wisconsin and finish out conservative reforms in that state and wait for 2024 when he will be only 56 years old.
Or he would make a fine VP.
Ted Cruz on the other hand is a once in a generation, perhaps lifetime superstar who can drive a team downfield to score time and time again and who can inspire the defense to frustrate the enemy to defeat.
After Obama-Pelosi-Reid, Cruz is the Constitutionalist who can do the most for America ***now*** to restore and promote American ideals and values.
Walker on the other hand is prone to fall into the GOP uniparty establishment.
Liberals will hammer the point that he doesn’t have a college degree, but that will backfire on them if he is the nominee.
The vast majority of voters don’t have a degree, liberals calling them stupid won’t go over very well.
Shaddup Norm Lenhart’s biotch.
I'm OK with Walker. His presentation is not nearly as forceful as Cruz's and Palin's though. He needs to show some fire.
Walker is the most qualified guy for the job.
Walker sure has a good record in Wisconsin. Probably better than any of the other candidates. Key word being RECORD. Not speeches and “promises”
Yes we do...
Sorry I can’t get enthused over Walker because of his amnesty position. Cruz is the only one taking the correct positions every time and who can win. RINOS will be desperate to divert support away from him.
I keep hearing rumors that Kohl’s is going to fold.
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