Granderson: Herschel Walker’s candidacy is more interesting now that Senate control is decided.” A month later one of its editors wrote that “Walker has a distinct talent for making his followers into his allies.”
Walker has won support from most of his fellow Democrats who also oppose the bill. He has succeeded in persuading them, however, that he can win support from Republicans, who, for all their grumblings about their own deficit-reducing plans, were eager to support him when the Democrats controlled the Senate.
Walker is running on three main proposals. First, he wants to freeze military pension payouts until the Pentagon’s budget is balanced. Second, he wants to cut spending for domestic purposes by about $1 trillion, including $600 billion for infrastructure and educational improvements. Third, he wants to eliminate the corporate tax rate for corporations in the 35 largest US corporations, and for all corporations in the US, as a part of his economic stimulus program. He wants to allow the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire and allow the president to reduce the estate tax.
In the past seven months, Walker has picked up some early endorsements from party leaders such as former Vice President Al Gore and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has called Walker “one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met,” while former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has said that he would support Walker’s campaign in a heartbeat. He has also picked up endorsements from both governors and state legislators, and from several prominent lobbyists.
But he has not yet picked up support in other significant ways. Although Walker has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate, he has not yet made it clear whether he will run, or whether he will run for president in 2012. And he has made no endorsements from prominent party organizations.
Walker and his fellow Republicans may be tempted by the idea of a Walker candidacy. In the past, Walker has received the backing of some conservatives who wish to see his candidacy because their views are close to his on some issues, such as reducing the Pentagon’s bloated budget. But Walker has not received any of the backing of the more conservative wing of the party, such as the Club for Growth and the Club for Growth Action, which support a bigger tax cut for the wealthy.
In the last month, Walker’s campaign has received some help from national conservatives, including radio talk show host Laura Ingraham and Fox News Channel chairman Roger