Gov. Scott Walker says the upcoming recall elections are an “inconvenience” and a “distraction” to most Wisconsinites.

“People are ready to move on,” Walker said in an interview after an appearance in Washington, D.C. “And I don’t just mean one party or another. I think just in general. The average citizen in Wisconsin I talk to, it’s like they’ve had it … They want us to be talking about jobs. They want us to be focused on that … And so having another political campaign -- it’s going to happen, it’s not like they can avoid it. But it’s not something they’re particularly interested in.”

Walker said that “when I talk to people, if that issue comes up, they’re like, ‘Can’t that just be over? ‘”

The GOP governor said the recalls were nonetheless a political challenge for his party, especially if Republican state senators are heavily outspent by groups on the other side, which he said “can have a real impact."

Walker spoke to reporters after appearing with several other governors at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington for a discussion of state’s policies toward business.

Walker told the Journal Sentinel he rejected the notion that he is to blame for “polarizing” the political climate in Wisconsin.

“This is a state that is almost equally balanced between a Republican point of view and a Democratic point of view,” said Walker. “We didn’t expose something new. It’s been there.”

Walker also contended that “for all the talk about polarizing,” he has avoided using polarizing rhetoric about public employees during the debate over collective bargaining.

“Find me one clip of me saying anything but great things about teachers,” said Walker. “The union is purposely ginning up this mindset that (teachers) are under attack, they’re under siege -- I think unfortunately creating great fear and division among teachers and other public employees, with the whole idea (to) use this as an issue to try to leverage a change in the political leadership.”

Walker was one of six governors – four Republicans, two Democrats – who appeared at the Chamber event and spoke about policies to improve the business climate in their states.