Scott Walker's long, slow slide
The Wisconsin governor assumed that the strength of his record would help him endure in the 2016 race. It didn't.


I was never high on Scott Walker's presidential chances.
The Wisconsin governor gave good speeches and his record as a union-busting truth-to-power speaker in his home state was certainly attractive enough to cross the plausibility threshold. But he seemed to be unusually bad at politicking. He accepted the wrong advice from the wrong people, was capable of contradicting himself several times a day, flirted with dangerous topics like President Obama's religion without finesse, and just generally didn't seem up to the job.
He jumped to a lead in Iowa early on the strength of his record in Wisconsin. This was his high watermark.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
He had no second act. In the theater of politics, there are distinct stages. Unless you're a prohibitive frontrunner — heck, even if you are — you need to learn how to pick spots, make moments, and introduce new reasons for voters to like you. Walker was never prohibitive. He lacked energy and flare. He was a one-hit wonder, assuming that the strength of his record and his stolid, workmanlike style would help him endure.
I don't know whether Donald Trump's rise abetted Walker's downfall. Chris Cillizza says it did because Trump is proving the old adage that high-wattage personality matters. Walker is about as exciting as a day-old salami sandwich.
But if taking attention away from Walker is the issue here, several candidates with whom he shares a base have seen their support grow since Trump got in. And Walker had to know that money would not follow him into a hole. Money chases success. Rick Perry's flameout should have been a warning sign.
Walker leaves behind a lot of talent and a number of fundraisers, as The Washington Post's David Drucker noted on Twitter. Some will decamp to a hungry Trump organization, but I think a number will wait to see who emerges as a credible rival to Trump in Iowa. Carly Fiorina has to demonstrate staying power before she becomes a staff magnet.
There are now 15 candidates in the race, if you include Jim Gilmore. Walker polled at about one half of 1 percent.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Marc Ambinder is TheWeek.com's editor-at-large. He is the author, with D.B. Grady, of The Command and Deep State: Inside the Government Secrecy Industry. Marc is also a contributing editor for The Atlantic and GQ. Formerly, he served as White House correspondent for National Journal, chief political consultant for CBS News, and politics editor at The Atlantic. Marc is a 2001 graduate of Harvard. He is married to Michael Park, a corporate strategy consultant, and lives in Los Angeles.
-
Do smartphone bans in schools work?
The Explainer Trials in UK, New Zealand, France and the US found prohibition may be only part of the solution
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequel
The Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy