Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will be the first likely presidential candidate to open an office in Iowa.
Walker’s committee, Our American Revival, has leased office space at 2775 86th St. in Urbandale, a site previously leased by Michele Bachmann’s campaign in advance of the 2012 Iowa caucuses and by Mitt Romney’s campaign during the general election.
The move is another clear indication that Walker is planning to run for president and that posting a strong performance in Iowa will be central to his strategy. The Des Moines Register first reported the lease Tuesday, and it was confirmed by the Washington Examiner.
Walker has already begun to make inroads in the state, beginning with a well-received speech last month to the Iowa Freedom Summit hosted by Rep. Steve King and Citizens United, and he has hired David Polyansky as a senior Iowa adviser.
But Walker is just one of many likely Republican contenders taking early steps to build strong political networks in Iowa. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush recently hired veteran Iowa operative David Kochel to run his likely presidential campaign. On Tuesday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made his 13th trip to the state in advance of running for president in 2016.
