Wisconsin governor, once a frontrunner, encourages 15 remaining candidates for presidential bid to ‘clear the field’ in search of Donald Trump alternative
In a shock announcement that called for a “positive, conservative alternative” to Donald Trump, the Wisconsin governor Scott Walker announced on Monday he was suspending his presidential campaign – once the leading bid for Republicans to recapture the White House.
At a news conference in Madison on Monday, a week after his debate outing failed to revive interest in establishment candidates among a crowded field dominated by Trump and outsiders, Walker called on his fellow Republicans to essentially gang up on the real-estate mogul to “clear the field”, which has now been limited to 15.
“Today, I believe that I am being called to lead by helping to clear the field in this race so that a positive conservative message can rise to the top,” Walker said. “With this in mind, I am suspending my campaign indefinitely.”
Walker encouraged other candidates to do the same, “so that voters can focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive, conservative alternative to the current frontrunner.”
Walker said he admired former President Ronald Reagan “because of his eternal optimism,” but “sadly, the debate taking place in the Republican party today, is not focused on that optimistic view of America. Instead, it is focused on personal attacks.
“We need to get back to the basics of our party,” he said.
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http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/21/scott-walker-ends-2016-presidential-campaign