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 Walker, the governor of neighboring Wisconsin, joined U.S. Senator
Joni Ernst at the head of a parade of about 300 motorcycle riders
who traveled 39 miles (62 km)to Ernst's inaugural "Roast and Ride,"
a political event combining barbecue and the roar of
Harley-Davidsons.
The spot in front was appropriate for the new front-runner in Iowa,
the state that in seven months holds the first nominating contest to
pick the party's presidential candidate before the November 2016
election.
Walker, who built his reputation by taking on labor unions, has led
the five most recent polls in Iowa, including the respected Des
Moines Register poll. The Register showed him with a
seven-percentage point lead over four tightly bunched rivals and
found he was viewed favorably by two-thirds of likely Iowa
caucus-goers.
"If the caucuses were today, he would win. Unless he really screws
up, he should win," said Doug Gross, state chairman for Mitt
Romney's 2008 campaign and former chief of staff for longtime
Governor Terry Branstad.
Iowa political veterans say Walker's popularity stems from his
Midwestern background and his appeal to all elements of the state's
Republican base, from pragmatic establishment voters looking for a
winner to the social and religious conservatives who play an
influential role in the state's politics.
But things will get tougher for Walker as he moves into the daily
grind of face-to-face campaigning in a state where voters are
accustomed to being wooed.
"The next test for Governor Walker is transitioning from the big
stage, multi-candidate events to the hand-to-hand combat of retail
campaigning and organizing in Iowa," said former state party
chairman Matt Strawn.
Walker has not formally declared his candidacy, and he told
reporters on Saturday he would make the announcement "probably soon
after the end of this month."
The governor also dodged questions about whether he would
participate in the state's straw poll in August, a test of strength
that traditionally winnows the field. The poll has been criticized
for being too expensive for candidates.
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Several other contenders, including former Florida Governor Jeb
Bush, have said they will skip the straw poll. Without Walker, the
state party might be forced to drop it.
Walker, a motorcycle enthusiast who addressed Saturday's crowd in
his black Harley-Davidson t-shirt, was one of seven declared or
likely Republican presidential contenders to give brief speeches at
Ernst's barbecue.
Texas Governor Rick Perry led his own motorcycle ride to the
fairgrounds. U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio, former
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former business executive Carly
Fiorina and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson spoke but did not
participate in the motorcycle ride, although each contender put up a
tent at the site to woo voters.
Walker pushed back at criticism from Democratic front-runner Hillary
Clinton about Wisconsin's voting laws.
"In our state, we have a law that makes it easy to vote but hard to
cheat," he said. "It’s another example of how Hillary Clinton is
squarely out of touch with mainstream America."
Republicans at the barbecue said Walker's record of battling public
sector labor unions to restrict bargaining rights was a strong
selling point - along with his two election wins and a victory in a
recall effort in Democratic-leaning Wisconsin.
"My No. 1 thing is I want to support a Republican who can win in
2016, and I think Walker can win," said Ron Tekippe, a computer
programmer from Ankeny who likes Walker but is still undecided.
(Editing by Frances Kerry and Grant McCool)
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