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Scott Walker Talks 2016 and Hillary

Gov. Scott Walker, in an appearance Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press," said a Republican governor would make an ideal presidential nominee -- and suggested he may end up getting into the race.

By Ellen Gabler

Gov. Scott Walker, in an appearance Sunday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press," said a Republican governor would make an ideal presidential nominee -- and suggested he may end up getting into the race.

Walker, who defeated Democrat Mary Burke on Tuesday to win a second term, didn't say explicitly that he was considering a presidential run, responding only that he'll "see what the future holds." But he stressed the need for a contender outside of Washington and noted he thinks "governors make much better presidents than members of Congress."

Walker issued a caveat: that his friend and fellow Republican Rep. Paul Ryan "might be the only exception to that rule."

The Democratic National Committee was quick to push back against Walker.

"We're thrilled that Governor Walker thinks Republicans should run for President on the record of GOP governors," Michael Czin, the DNC's press secretary, said in a statement that targeted Walker's record on jobs, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on credit downgrades and Texas Gov. Rick Perry on his state's poverty rate.

"The fact is that the gubernatorial wing of the GOP is every bit as broken and dysfunctional as the congressional wing of the party," Czin said.

Walker, in an interview last month with Journal Sentinel editors and reporters, suggested he would sooner run for president of Paul Ryan's fan club than run against the congressman, who was the Republicans' 2012 vice presidential nominee.

Walker also said then that he intended to serve out his four-year term if he were to win re-election as governor.

On Sunday, when "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd brought up that pledge, Walker cast it differently.

"I said my plan was for four years ... but certainly I care deeply about my state and county," he said.

Walker's win Tuesday was his third statewide victory in four years, including the 2012 recall attempt. His name regularly is on speculative lists of potential presidential candidates, as is Christie's and Ryan's.

Coming off Republicans' huge victory nationally in last week's midterm elections, Walker talked about his party's need to have a clear message in order to take back the White House in 2016, specifically if Hillary Clinton decides to run.

"She embodies everything that is wrong with Washington," he said.

(c)2014 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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