By Ben Kamisar - 08-17-15 12:43 PM EDT
Scott Walker took on hecklers during his stump speech Monday at the Iowa State Fair, arguing things are better in Wisconsin because of the labor reforms he introduced as governor.
“I am not intimidated by you, sir, or anyone else out there,” he said Monday at the Des Moines Register’s soapbox at the fair.
As he spoke, Walker pointed at a protestor in the front row who held up a sign that said “WARNING: Don’t let Scott Walker to do America what he did to Wisconsin.”
“I will fight for the American people over and over and over and over again. You want someone who’s tested, I’m right here,” he said.
“This is what happened in Wisconsin. We will not back down, we will do what is necessary to defend the American people.”
Not always the most energetic politician, Walker seemed to feed off the protesters who repeatedly interrupted him by chanting and booing. Walker identified the protestors as union opponents from Wisconsin; many of them wore cheesehead hats, the iconic headdress of Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers.
The governor’s supporters countered the protestors with cheers of their own, holding up Walker campaign signs to cover critical signs from the live television broadcast. Walker called out his critics a handful of times as he spoke, defending his record in the Badger State.
“The truth is, things are better in Wisconsin because of our reforms,” he said, as protestors booed and yelled “Not true.”
“If we can fix a state like Wisconsin, we can fix America,” Walker added.
Walker is seeking to use his image as a fighter to bolster his GOP candidacy. He soared to the top of polls of Iowa voters this year after a rousing speech in the state.
Supporters point to his victories in Wisconsin — including a recall election — in a blue state as proof that he’s battle tested and able to deliver on tough challenges.
But in recent weeks, Walker has dropped in the polls.
He’s now trailing Donald Trump and Ben Carson in most polls in Iowa, which is an important state for Walker to win if he is to emerge as the GOP nominee.
In his speech on Monday, he targeted the disaffected voters who have flocked to Trump.
“These days, I’m not just frustrated with the president, I’m frustrated with the Republican leadership in Washington as well,” Walker said.
“They told us during the last election that if we just elected a Republican Senate, the leadership would put a bill to repeal ObamaCare on the desk of the president. It’s August, we are still waiting for that measure. We need to have some leadership in Washington.”
Walker said that he shared the sentiment of anti-establishment Republicans who feel like the party has been unable to turn the successful 2014 midterm elections, which flipped the Senate to the GOP, into policy wins.
“Part of the reason we see some of the things we see across this country is because people want to send a message,” he said.
“I talk to voters all the time in this state and around the country who say, ‘When you make promises on the campaign trail, we want to see it,' whether it’s repealing ObamaCare, or standing up against illegal immigration.”
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