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Wisconsin Governor Tries to Walk Midwestern Trail to White House

When he announces for president next week, Scott Walker plans to run as the heartland’s favorite son. The problem is that he sometimes seems a little too regional.

His megadonors are from Chicago. His brain trust is from Wisconsin. And Iowa is the campaign linchpin.

 

When he formally announces his presidential bid in a Milwaukee suburb next week, Scott Walker’s campaign will have an unmistakably Midwestern stamp on it, from a stump speech that features giant Midwestern retailer Kohl’s to a primary season strategy pegged to Iowa and Michigan.

The idea is to position the Wisconsin governor as the favorite son of the Midwest, where he hopes to run up the score beginning with Iowa next February. Walker has so far raised nearly $30 million for his effort, according to two sources briefed in his campaign’s finances — much of it collected from powerful heartland benefactors.

But the drawbacks of his approach are already beginning to surface: Walker sometimes seems a little too regional. His grasp on foreign policy has been unsteady and he’s not as well known as many of his GOP foes in the Northeast, especially on Wall Street, where his conservative sensibilities have met with resistance. Over the past year, for example, he’s waged a protracted push to secure the backing of Paul Singer, a New York City-based hedge fund manager and prominent Republican patron, visiting him alone or with small groups on at least three separate occasions. In one recent get-together, Walker even briefed the billionaire on his recent trip to Israel.

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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