The Alabama Republican Party will play host to Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on Friday night at their annual summer dinner.
The Party has had some luck with the timing of their speakers in recent years. Texas Gov. Rick Perry spoke to a record crowd in Birmingham in 2011 just a day before he announced his intention to seek the presidency.
Walker’s flame might not be burning quite as bright as Perry’s was at ALGOP’s 2011 summer dinner, but his name is still frequently mentioned when the topic of discussion turns to potential Republican nominees in 2016.
Politico’s James Hohmann wrote earlier this week that Gov. Walker has a “stealth 2016 strategy” in place.
Gov. Scott Walker’s game plan for the next three years is quietly taking shape: Win reelection next year in this purple state without moderating a record that has won many hearts in the conservative base; let the other GOP hopefuls get sullied by the mud pit of Congress and each other; then pounce in 2015.
That, in essence, is the outline of the likely presidential contender’s game plan that emerged from interviews with multiple people in his orbit.
Operating in the shadows of the emerging GOP presidential field, Walker has been laying the groundwork for a 2016 campaign. His bid would aim to capitalize on his record as a committed social conservative who has taken on Democratic interests repeatedly in a Midwestern battleground state — and won.
You probably won’t catch him on the Sunday talk shows holding forth on immigration reform or facing off with senators over federal surveillance policy. But that suits Walker fine. He’d rather take care of business in Wisconsin and travel quietly to early voting states, raising money and building chits for a national bid.
ALGOP Chairman Bill Armistead says he believes Walker is the kind of conservative that Alabamians could get behind if he were to ultimately launch a 2016 bid.
“I’ve had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him and he’s got the same values we do,” Armistead told Yellowhammer. “He’s a solid conservative who stands firm. He’s not squishy. He doesn’t back down. We’ve seen the way he’s battled the unions — Alabamians like a fighter.”
Armistead said Walker’s popularity is evidenced by the ticket sales for the event.
“We will have around 900 people at the dinner,” Armistead said. “We’re delighted he chose to come.”
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