Gov. Scott Walker’s performance in the first Republican presidential debate of the 2016 campaign is getting mixed reviews from Wisconsin political observers.
Seventeen Republican candidates appeared in two separate events televised on Fox News Thursday: The top-10 polling candidates took the stage for a primetime debate, while the bottom seven participated in a late-afternoon discussion. Walker participated in the main debate along with Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich.
Walker kept his answers short, speaking for about six minutes throughout the two-hour debate at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He did not engage the other candidates, although he did take a couple of shots at Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
"It’s sad to think right now that probably the Russian and Chinese governments know more about Hillary Clinton’s email server than do the members of the United States Congress," he said at one point, garnering cheers from the crowd.
Rick Esenberg, president and general counsel of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, likened Walker Friday to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.
"He really approached this as a game manager," he said. "I think his answers were succinct and to the point. I think he answered some fairly tough questions very, very well but he hit singles and doubles — another sports metaphor. He didn’t hit home runs, and I think for him, that’s all he’s got to do right now."
Esenberg said that if Walker’s strategy is to be the alternative choice when none of the other candidates break out from the pack, he accomplished it Thursday night.
However, Walker failed to make much of an impression on Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Executive Director Matt Rothschild.
"I don’t think Scott Walker cast much of a shadow," he said. "To me, he looked like a lightweight up there in comparison with the other ones with the possible exception of Dr. Carson."
Rothschild also stated that the entire Republican party, especially Trump, has a "woman problem" and is out-of-touch on abortion for not supporting exceptions for cases of rape or incest. Walker himself fielded a question Thursday night about whether he would let a mother die rather than have an abortion. He said that he is, and has always been, anti-abortion.
"I’ve said many times that that unborn child can be protected and there are many alternatives that would protect the life of the mother," he said.
The next Republican debate is scheduled for Sept. 16 at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.
The Week in Review can be heard Fridays at 8 a.m. on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio.
