A year or so ago, I said that Walker was the sleeper candidate. There’s a lot in his resume that should make him a strong candidate. But he’s stumbled again and again on the national stage. And I think the big thing is this: he does not come off as a likable guy. He’s aggressive. If you’re in line with his ideology then his aggressiveness is appealing. He’s a fighter. He seems, and I think is, ruthless. And he’s successful. You cannot take away from him that he ran on – and pushed through – an extremely conservative agenda in a bluish state. Big deal. But only a small portion of the electorate is that ideological. If you’re not, I think he comes off very differently. As aggressive and kind of a jerk.
They used to say that even for people who didn’t agree with President Bush, he was the kind of guy you could see yourself having a beer with. I don’t think people without a strong ideological grounding on the right will see Walker that way. He’s not the guy you have a beer with. He’s the guy who would stick out his leg and trip you when you’re on your way to have a beer with someone else. Maybe President Bush, maybe not. But he’s not likable. And those people don’t get elected President.
