CHICAGO — As the long-shot bid to block Donald Trump from becoming the Republican presidential nominee gains modest momentum, the movement’s leaders claim they have no one specifically in mind to replace him at next month’s national convention.
That doesn’t mean names aren’t circulating and politicians aren’t subtly auditioning for what could be the role of a lifetime. One of those being floated: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. As an early Trump critic who exited the presidential race in September and endorsed Texas Sen. Cruz ahead of Wisconsin’s April primary, Walker could appeal to many segments of the fractured party.
“It’s very a sellable notion to many delegates,” said Rick Shaftan, a Republican consultant working with the so-called “Free the Delegates” effort. “His record in Wisconsin, every conservative loves it.”
Walker checks multiple boxes that delegates might find attractive in a post-Trump search: His confrontations with organized labor have made him a hero for many conservatives, he spent months last year crafting a campaign message and he eagerly embraces the campaign trail like few others. He also got out of the race before a single voter cast a ballot, creating separation from other candidates who were outright rejected.
Since the beginning, Walker has been a critic of Trump and framed his exit from the race as a selfless attempt “to clear the field in this race so that a positive, conservative message can rise to the top of the field.”
He then backed Cruz in Wisconsin’s primary, helping deliver what was arguably Trump’s biggest blow of the nomination season. Walker has strong support from big money backers in his party, including the billionaire Koch brothers. And he has a close relationship with RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, both also Wisconsinites.
On the other side of the coin, Walker got lackluster reviews in the Republican presidential debates that he participated in and was the head of a campaign that clearly struggled with financial management.
Further complicating the prospect of taking on the man who handily beat a field of 17 Republicans, anyone who might emerge as a Trump alternative would immediately face the challenge of simultaneously rallying conservatives — especially supporters of second-place finisher Cruz — assuaging skittish donors and reassuring party leaders. Walker, however, appears to be keeping his options open.
Earlier this week, in an act that could be viewed as trying to gain favor with the dump-Trump movement, Walker backed Ryan in calling for convention delegates to be free to vote their conscience.
“Delegates are and should be able to vote the way they see fit,” Walker told reporters this week after a groundbreaking ceremony for a sausage factory in his state. “We’ll see how things go between now and the convention as to what the next steps are.”