Granderson: Herschel Walker’s candidacy is more interesting now that Senate control is decided
Herschel Walker’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination is more interesting now that the Senate controls the nomination process. That dynamic is set.
The national party has its nominee in Hillary Clinton. So, the focus moves to an individual state and candidate. That state is Wisconsin, where President Barack Obama has led Walker.
Wisconsin will soon vote and Walker faces a serious challenge. In 2008, Barack Obama carried the state and beat Walker by 9 points. Obama also lost the state by 2 points to John McCain in 2008, and defeated Walker by 4 points in 2008.
If there were any question that Walker would challenge Clinton, his opposition to her would not give him momentum. Obama and Clinton could not be farther apart on health care or her support for the Iraq war, the war in Afghanistan and the Wall Street bailout.
Walker is in the strongest position he’s been in since running for governor. He would be challenged by no one, save for one, state Supreme Court justice, and by the governor.
Wisconsin voters are being asked to consider a presidential candidate because Democrats are in control in the state. Hillary Clinton is in a strong position and has every advantage. Walker must contend with one of his greatest allies in the state, a Democratic governor. The governor could be his biggest rival.
Walker could challenge Clinton. But his political future is already secured. We will see how much of a challenge it is.
I’d agree with you about Walker’s chances – the Democrats have control of the Senate. Walker wouldn’t have much to worry about.
Walker is a “dead man walking” right now because of a court ruling.
It was a 5-4 decision by the Wisconsin Supreme court that allowed the state to require drivers to have an alternate vehicle with rear-facing child seats during a school zone. Walker was a sponsor of the bill which passed the legislature and went to the Supreme Court.
In the ruling, the Court wrote:
“By making the law,
