Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker plans to drop out of the presidential race today after failing to find traction in a crowded Republican presidential field, The New York Times first reported.
Walker is set to hold a press conference in Madison, Wis. at 6 p.m. ET on Monday. Multiple news outlets confirmed the news Monday afternoon.
Walker became a conservative darling after signing legislation to curb Wisconsin public sector unions’ collective bargaining rights in 2011. But early polling has shown support for the governor, once viewed among the Republicans’ strongest 2016 prospects, fading fast. After a lackluster performance in the second Republican presidential debate last week, Walker was polling at less than one-half percent.
The governor, who was scheduled to fundraise this week in New York, Washington, and New Hampshire this week, saw the campaign money start to dry up after repeated missteps on the national stage.
In an attempt to recapture the mojo that fueled his meteoric rise, Walker said Sept. 14 he would seek national organized labor restrictions similar to the policies he championed in Wisconsin as President.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry was the first to leave the GOP race on Sept. 11.
REACTIONS
Cruz reacts to Walker reportedly dropping out: “Holy cow.”
— Ali Weinberg (@AliABCNews) September 21, 2015
In case you guys missed it, earlier today I tweeted something bad about ethanol and as a result, this news conference is happening at 5PM CT
— Liz Mair (@LizMair) September 21, 2015
Today Scott Walker is learning that personnel really is policy.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) September 21, 2015
What Scott Walker was supposed to be doing tonight: A fundraiser in Indianapolis. http://t.co/JbWaiCzEz0 pic.twitter.com/hPHluwAR2V
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) September 21, 2015
An amazing rise & fall for Walker, from spring sensation to asterisk in last @CNN poll. Beware the memes of the moment. Many turns ahead.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) September 21, 2015
Trumka takes the high road: “Scott Walker is still a disgrace, just no longer national.”
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) September 21, 2015
Republican candidates are dropping out by order of achievements.
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) September 21, 2015
Rubio campaign manager Terry Sullivan announces Rubio has bagged Walker’s NH co-chair
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) September 21, 2015
I’d be worried about Scott Walker but he always struck me as someone with a rich and complex inner life so I’m sure he’ll be fine
— Elias Isquith (@eliasisquith) September 21, 2015
And then there were . . . how many?
Back to the hard and never-ending work of screwing Wisconsin full time…
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! (In my Gomer Pyle voice)
Maybe now Bobby Jindal can move up to the big boys table at the next debate. That should be good for a few extra laughs.
Crap, now he comes back to Wisconsin…
Any chance he could get lost along the way and end up in somewhere, anywhere else???