As Gov. Scott Walker returns to Wisconsin following his failed presidential run, speculation has ramped up that he could hit the campaign trail again, this time as a potential vice presidential candidate.
At his first public appearance Friday since ending his presidential campaign last week, Walker maintained he will finish his term as governor but declined to rule out joining the Republican ticket if asked.
"Who knows who the nominee is or who that person would want, or not want, in terms of their running mate,” Walker said at an event in Beaver Dam, Wis., the Chicago Tribune reported. “I'm just focused on being governor and I'm going to be here.”
Walker could be a viable vice presidential option depending on the candidate, according to UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden.
“He could be really attractive if his character balances and complements that of the nominee,” Burden said. “If a U.S. senator got the nomination, they might like to have a Midwest governor [as vice president] as an outsider and make the ticket more expansive … Or someone who is older like Jeb Bush, they might like a younger person on the ticket.”
Burden also noted that Walker could see the position as another way of improving his future chances at national office.
“The vice presidency is a common path to the presidency,” Burden said. “Someone who wanted to be in the White House may see that as a backdoor way to be in line for the presidency.”
The governor was clear, however, that he wasn’t interested in running for U.S. Senate in 2018.
“All the governors I've talked to who told me they went from governor to United States Senate have told me how miserable they are, and I have no interest in being miserable," Walker said, as reported by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Walker ended his presidential campaign last Monday amid plunging poll numbers and financial struggles. He has since pledged to redouble his efforts in Wisconsin.
"All of us know with relationships you can say all you want, but the best way to make that case is to be there," Walker said, according to the State Journal.
