# Scott Walker is in **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 13, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052 "2015-07-13T13:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/141 "2015-09-21T22:40:08Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [url=[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_GOP\_2016\_WALKER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-09-21-18-13-34](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_WALKER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-09-21-18-13-34)]“Called to lead” by dropping out of the race… yeah… it’s that kind of leadership that will… um… something? Reminds me of how Sarah Palin insisted that finishing her term as governor was the “quitter’s way out.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/142 "2015-09-21T22:43:23Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > More than “the first drop”; his numbers have been spiraling down for weeks, and he’d dropped to the bottom rung of candidates (based on poll numbers). Over the past week, in particular, it’s become clear that there was increasing unhappiness (and maybe panic) in his camp, and it looks like the cash spigots were drying up (based on reports of unpaid bills). (Bill) Clinton and McCain both had arguably worse problems early in the primaries, paired back their staffs to a minimum and managed to still get early wins to propel them back to win the nomination. But reading more, it sounds like Walker may have overspent even when he was getting a lot of funding. I guess its possible his campaign was so deep in the red that even going forward with a skeleton crew wasn’t possible (IIRC, McCain had his wealthy wife take out a large loan to get him over the dry spell, I don’t think Walker is similarly well wed). > [@DAmato](#): > > In the 1 minute press conference, Walker suspended his campaign. According to him, he’s suspending the campaign to allow the voters and the GOP to focus on one solid alternative to Donald Trump. Not the fact that he’s at less than 1%, no way! I wouldn’t be surprised if its at least partly true, in that the donor community was trying to consolidate behind one or two choices, leaving Walker out in the cold. Sort of interesting though, What was the last time a primary candidate stepped down while specifically called out voters not to vote for one particular candidate like that? ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/143 "2015-09-21T22:45:10Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Kind of bizarre to bail at the first drop in the polls. Plenty of candidates have suffered worse and gone on to win the nomination. Okay, I’ll bite: who has [polled at zero](http://www.wkow.com/story/30072499/2015/09/20/walker-at-0-in-new-national-poll) and gone on to win a POTUS nomination? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/144 "2015-09-21T22:56:47Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > “Called to lead” by dropping out of the race… More like “called” by the Koch brothers and told that his allowance was being cut off. > [@Simplicio](#): > > Sort of interesting though, What was the last time a primary candidate stepped down while specifically called out voters not to vote for one particular candidate like that? Wow, the GOP Establishment is feeling even more butthurt and desperate over Trump’s bullhorn broadcasts of their dog-whistles than I thought… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/145 "2015-09-21T23:03:57Z")
So Scooter dropped out, just like he did at Marquette University after getting busted for [campaign irregularities](http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/article/2013/dec/18/scott-walker-early-years/) when running for class president. I sense an evolving trend … ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/146 "2015-09-21T23:22:22Z")
Now he’s an Electoral College dropout, too. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/147 "2015-09-21T23:25:09Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Now he’s an Electoral College dropout, too. ::Applause:: ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/148 "2015-09-21T23:56:47Z")
I’m surprised by Walker getting out this early. As for who’s next to go, I think Santorum or Huckabee. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/149 "2015-09-22T00:01:12Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > But reading more, it sounds like Walker may have overspent even when he was getting a lot of funding. I guess its possible his campaign was so deep in the red that even going forward with a skeleton crew wasn’t possible (IIRC, McCain had his wealthy wife take out a large loan to get him over the dry spell, I don’t think Walker is similarly well wed). Apparently [Walker’s money management skills are not stellar.](http://www.businessinsider.com/scott-walker-has-tens-of-thousands-of-dollars-worth-of-credit-card-debt-2015-8) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/150 "2015-09-22T00:37:12Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Scott Walker is out.](http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/09/21/scott-walker-said-to-be-quitting-presidential-race/) This could be just the break that the Jindal campaign was looking for! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/151 "2015-09-22T00:57:45Z")
Just stopping by to dance on the political grave of Scott Walker, the goggle-eyed homunculus hired by Koch Industries to manage their Midwest subsidiary formerly known as the state of Wisconsin. Lord knows I was more afraid of the prospect of his becoming President than any of the others. But I am glad to say I misoverestimated his political skillz, and he’s gone. So this is my sigh of relief. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/152 "2015-09-22T02:46:46Z")
Walker has never been anything but a puppet. The Koch Bros phoned him up and told him he had dropped to zero and he was done. I assume they’ll re-route the Walker cash towards Bush, although he looks pretty damn done, too. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/153 "2015-09-22T02:55:56Z")
All this extra coverage of the Walker campaign might be the boost he needs to get up to 1%. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/154 "2015-09-22T02:56:42Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think Walker is one of the first-tier candidates among the Republicans running, in terms of likelihood of being nominated. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > 'Fraid so. Whoof! You were waaaaaaaaay off-base **iiandyiiii** & **BrainGlutton**. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/155 "2015-09-22T02:57:42Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > All this extra coverage of the Walker campaign might be the boost he needs to get up to 1%. Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there! That would mean his support more than doubled when he announced he was no longer campaigning! That would be freaking hilarious! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/156 "2015-09-22T03:32:48Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > All that money the Kookie Monster brothers spent on him. All down the drain, wasted. All wasted. What a shame. What a shame. The problem with him dropping out so early means they have more time to buy a new candidate. Better he’d stayed in and soaked up more of their money and then dropped out. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/157 "2015-09-22T03:37:14Z")
So the two biggest jackasses are gone; now they need to work on winnowing out the dangerous nutjobs. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/158 "2015-09-22T03:38:18Z")
As usual, Andy has a good take on things. > **[Kochs Demand Walker Return Nine Hundred Million Dollars](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/kochs-demand-walker-return-nine-hundred-million-dollars)** > > The billionaire Koch brothers demanded that Walker return the nine hundred million dollars they had allocated to his campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/159 "2015-09-22T03:58:52Z")
Wow. The guy with the domestic policy of stripping workers of nearly every right short of recourse to the law (and maybe that too, I only paid attention through one half-lidded eye), coupled with tearing down educational institutions to the point that nearly everyone would grow up to be a laborer— _that_ guy couldn’t attract national support? No! Way! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052/160 "2015-09-22T04:00:17Z")
Walker tries to put a positive spin on the collapse of his campaign (via the NYT): > [@](#): > > “Today I believe that I am being called to lead by helping to clear the field in this race so that a positive, conservative message can rise to the top of the field,” Mr. Walker said. “With this in mind, I will suspend my campaign immediately. > > “I encourage other Republican presidential candidates to consider doing the same,” he said, “so that the voters can focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive, conservative alternative to the current front-runner.” “What? A complete loss of support and my campaign in humiliating ruins? I… meant to do that! You know – to help conservatives! Why, I’m pretty much a hero here!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scott-walker-is-in/725052.md?page=9)