Gov. Scott Walker is making moves for a 2016 presidential bid.
Riding the waves of a successful reelection, the Wisconsin Republican is taking the steps necessary to launch a presidential campaign next summer, which would put him in position to use his successes at governor to rail against the stagnation of Washington.
Walker, who has been amping up his profile with national interviews and appearances as of late, will use the Wisconsin legislation session to push an agenda that will eventually become his presidential platform, according to Politico.
“I think there’s going to be a hunger for a leader who can actually can get things done,” Walker told Politico Wednesday. “The closer I’ve gotten to this position, the more I’ve realized that anyone who really wants to be president has to be a little crazy … The only way you should run is if you feel called to.”
The 47-year-old Republican has repeatedly said he is waiting to feel “the call” to run for president and that he is dedicated to his next term as Wisconsin’s governor, but it is clear that he and his team — which includes senior advisers Keith Gilkes, Stephan Thompson and R.J. Johnson — are ready for the next higher office.
What Walker may lack in some arenas — a good charismatic profile like potential rival Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, for instance — he makes up for in other facets, such as his social conservatism and a connection with blue-collar voters.
He also has a deep fundraising network, raising more than $25 million for this year’s campaign and $30 million in the 2012 recall election.
Walker ranks ninth among 11 potential GOP candidates in 2016, according to a RealClearPolitics average of polls. He is approximately five percentage points behind leader Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
