Walker stumps in Vegas, rips Iran nuclear deal
Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker campaigned in Las Vegas on Tuesday, making it clear he‘s running on his record of fighting unions and cutting taxes as governor of Wisconsin.
He also sharply denounced the new deal that the U.S. struck with Iran on its nuclear program, saying he would do away with it as president. He said Iran is that region‘s "leading state sponsor of terrorism."
"Looking ahead, we need a president who will terminate that bad deal with Iran on Day 1," Walker said, adding he would put "crippling economic sanctions on Iran."
The Red Rock Harley-Davidson dealership in Las Vegas was Walker‘s first campaign stop since he announced Monday that he‘s in the race.
Walker was ranked fourth in a Monmouth University poll with 7 percent of Republican voters supporting him in a field of 16 GOP candidates. That poll placed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at the top with 15 percent.
As Wisconsin governor, Walker championed policies that curbed the bargaining abilities of public-sector unions. Spurred by those changes, anti-Walker activists launched a campaign to recall him that failed in 2012. Walker‘s political resiliency in a state that leans Democrat is now a selling point on the campaign trail, along with his willingness to take on unions.
Walker spoke about his record as governor, which includes slashing taxes by $2 billion, expanding school choice, and requiring enrollment in a job training program and drug tests for welfare recipients.
"We need to be for a pro-growth economic plan that allows individuals and families to earn and save their piece of the American dream," Walker said.
He said if the U.S. lowers the tax rate, a broader base of people will be able to participate in the economy and pay taxes.
"I believe you all can spend your money far better than the federal government," Walker said.
The Democratic National Committee put out a press release after Walker‘s announcement, criticizing a comment in which Walker called the minimum wage one of the left‘s "lame ideas."
Walker told reporters afterward he is focused on policies that can increase wages and will let others talk about how low wages should be.
Several dozen protesters with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 lined the street outside the motorcycle dealership.
Geoconda Arguello Kline, secretary-treasurer of the union, which has 55,000 members in Nevada, said the group is concerned about how Walker‘s policies would hurt middle-class workers. When a reporter pointed out Walker said he wants wages to increase ’ not decrease ’ she discounted that.
"I don‘t believe that when you are attacking unions," she said.
Walker next heads to Charleston, S.C., as part of a swing through early voting states. The Nevada caucuses are in February.
Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1
