Scott Walker ‘still a credible presidential candidate’ though he’s out of the 2016 race

There are new observations about former Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Scott Walker, who suspended his campaign for president on Monday despite a promising start.

“I never imagined Scott Walker as president. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he couldn’t have won. Now Walker has decided to drop out. But if he really wants to be president, then why on Earth would he do such a thing? Yes, his poll numbers are down, and his fundraising has dried up. He has made too many gaffes, and his debate performances have been lackluster. Well, so what?” asks Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, a columnist for The Week.

“No, I’m not kidding. This is September 2015. The Iowa caucuses will be held on Feb. 1, 2016. Anything could happen by then. Rick Santorum managed to win Iowa in 2012 with a total campaign budget that was probably less than what the Walker campaign spends on toner. Bobby Jindal’s poll numbers are hovering around the margin of error, and he’s still around,” he continues.

“At the end of the day, Walker is still a conservative Republican who won three elections in a row in a blue state, including the only incumbent victory in the entire history of gubernatorial recall elections in the United States. He passed union-busting bills, a concealed carry law, and a 20-week abortion ban. Nothing is like running for president of the United States, but he knows something about campaigning for office and winning elections. No matter how you slice it, he is still a credible presidential candidate,” Mr. Gobry declares in his analysis.

“This is a lesson about politics, especially at the highest level. Sometimes, the top prize only goes to those who never give up, who have an all-commanding faith in themselves,” he notes.

The Wisconsin governor is back down to business in his home state now, recently tweeting, “Great to meet with my staff this morning in my Capitol office.” Some have advice for the Mr. Walker in the meantime.

“Like Rick Perry, Walker couldn’t make the transition from excellent conservative governor to excellent conservative national political candidate,” says William A. Jacobson, founder of the much visited Legal Insurrection blog. “There is a ton of gloating on Twitter. Walker shouldn’t get mad. When Walker goes back to Wisconsin, Walker should get even by finishing the job he has started.”