Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker engaged in a call and response with attendees of the Republican National Convention Wednesday night, arguing that “America deserves better” than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as president of the United States.
In his address, Walker listed a slew of reasons why Americans “deserve better” than Clinton, pointing to GOP stances on foreign policy and small government. He then went on to make the case for Donald Trump and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who Walker has lauded since Trump named him to the ticket last Friday.
“The simple truth is: Liberal Washington insiders created these problems,” Walker said, according to prepared remarks. “And Hillary Clinton is the ultimate liberal Washington insider. If she were any more on the ‘inside,’ she’d be in prison. America deserves better than Hillary Clinton. We need to support Donald Trump and Mike Pence for president and vice president.”
The Wisconsin governor went on to repeat comments he made on Monday to the Iowa GOP delegation, saying that he is keeping the pledge he made during the first GOP debate in August.
“Last August, I said that any of the Republicans running would be better than Hillary Clinton. I meant it then, and I mean it now,” Walker told attendees. “So let me be clear: A vote for anyone other than Donald Trump in November is a vote for Hillary Clinton.
“Make no mistake: We can’t wait four more years and get ’em next time,” he said. “The consequences are too great.”
Earlier in the week, Walker made a point to emphasize unity within the Republican Party in a preview of Wednesday’s speech, while lauding Pence, a fellow Midwestern governor who he believes can help bring more conservatives to Trump who have been holding out his support.
“I know Mike Pence extremely well. Mike Pence is a Midwesterner through and through,” Walker said at the time. “He is exactly the kind of leader we need to make sure that with Donald Trump as the next president and Mike Pence as the vice president, he will make it clear that those good, sound Midwestern values are reflected in this administration going forward.”
Walker had been a vocal critic of Trump until only fairly recently, having supported Sen. Ted Cruz and helped him win the Wisconsin primary in early April. Walker dropped out of the presidential race before the first states voted after a sharp decline in the polls and his campaign dealt with a messy financial situation.
