I've been getting a lot of response from the column I posted by Prof. Bob Schwoch, who teaches public relations at UW and used to be a legislative staffer to both Republicans and Democrats at the Capitol. Schwoch believes Senate Republicans are going down in flames for the sake of Walker's ambitions to be the next great right-wing hero, a status Walker believes could land him on the 2012 presidential ticket.
It requires only a two-year sense of history to identify the last photogenic gubernatorial novice who turned into a conservative folk hero when a presidential candidate needed some far-right street cred.
I would contest the "photogenic" label. I've seen Walker's high school yearbook. As far as GOP veep candidates go, I think he would come ahead of Cheney but far behind Palin, Quayle and Bush Sr.
Nevertheless, there is a good chance that Walker has 2012 on his mind. By process of elimination, that means a VP candidacy. It's simply too early for him to launch a presidential campaign. It requires an overt commitment to campaigning out-of-state NOW something that would turn whoever in Wisconsin is still on the fence about Walker against him.
However, if he wins this fight and isn't the most hated governor in America 18 months from now, he could be a valuable asset to, say, Mitt Romney, who could use a bona fide conservative by his side to distract Bible Belt voters from his past as a baby-killer and socialist, as well as his current membership in a heretical cult.
It is important to note, however, that Sarah Palin was very popular among the people of her state when she joined the McCain ticket. Now she is less popular in Alaska than nationwide. Walker, on the other hand, has only become less popular since he entered office, with a net negative approval/disapproval rating.
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