![[u"New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) is joined on stage by Laura Ingraham on the second day of the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, February 26, 2015. This event, which is billed as the nation's largest gathering of conservatives, runs February 25-28, 2015. (Photo by Rod Lamkey Jr. for The Washington Times)", u"Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) delivers his speech on the second day of the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, February 26, 2015. This event, which is billed as the nation's largest gathering of conservatives, runs February 25-28, 2015. (Photo by Rod Lamkey Jr. for The Washington Times)"]](https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2015/02/26/20150226_CPAC_3257_c0-153-2400-1552_s885x516.jpg?160f2d20449c1fe882a6e97033dab79511603a62)
Riding high in early polls, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin criticized the Obama administration for not taking a more muscular approach to international affairs.
Mr. Walker said the next president must make sure that Islamic radicals do not launch attacks on American soil.
“We need a president who understands that radical Islamic terrorism is a threat to our way of life and all freedom-loving people on this Earth,” he said, sparking applause from the crowd. “We need a president, a leader who will stand up and say we will take the fight to them, and not to wait for them to take the fight to American soil for our children and grandchildren.”
Mr. Walker is one of a number of current and former governors who are considering presidential runs, and looking to beef up their foreign policy credential ahead of the 2016 race.
In November, he was elected for the third time in four years, and has sprinted to the front of the pack in early GOP nomination polls.
Mr. Walker said the nation needs to stand with Israel, and also said the Obama administration’s heavy-handed approach to governance clashes with the nation’s core.
SEE ALSO: Bobby Jindal: Republicans surrendering on amnesty, Obamacare
“You see here in America there is a reason why we celebrate the Fourth of July and not April 15 because in America we celebrate our independence from the government, not our dependence on it”,” he said.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.