Out of presidential race, and back home

After Scott Walker suspended his presidential campaign on Sept. 21, 2015, he said he had no interest in a potential cabinet position and said he'd serve the remaining three years of his term.

 

So, it's clear we will be seeing a lot of him in Wisconsin in the years ahead.

 

What, then, of Walker's pledge from the 2014 gubernatorial campaign?

 

The one that came when he attempted to quell concerns that he was using the governor's office as a stepping stone and would run for the presidency.

 

Here is what Walker said Oct. 10, 2014 in a debate with Democratic challenger Mary Burke: "My plan is if the people of the state of Wisconsin elect me on Nov. 4 is to be here for 4 years…It's a position I'm committed to." 

 

That statement landed on our Walk-O-Meter, which we use to track campaign promises. 

 

When the governor became a candidate for president in July 2015, we put the promise at Stalled. Afterall, if he won, he certainly would not be finishing his term. And the fact he was running at all raised questions about his commitment to finish that term.

 

Now, we are moving it to In the Works.

 

"I'm going to be governor for a little more than three years; I haven't made a decision whether to run for a third term," Walker told donors on a Sept. 23, 2015 conference call. "No matter what, I'm the governor. I don't plan on going anywhere.