Walker: Conservative ideas win elections

In one of his first meetings with a crowd of likely Iowa caucus goers, Scott Walker touted his record as Wisconsin governor as proof that conservative ideas win elections and that conservative governance works.

"I've won the race for governor three times in the last four years — three times, mind you, in a state that hasn't gone Republican for president since I was in high school more than 30 years ago. How about that?" Walker said, referring to his election and re-election in 2010 and 2014 and the recall attempt of 2012. "I think that sends a powerful message to Republicans in Washington and around the country: if you're not afraid to go big and go bold, you can actually get results."

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OBRADOVICH: A 'positive' message from the Freedom Summit

Walker spoke at length of the abuse and threats leveled against him by protesters opposing his labor reforms, trumpeted his education reforms and checked conservative boxes on gun rights, opposition to abortion and photo ID requirements for voting.

And although he was low-key about it, he also noted that he lived in Iowa as a child, while his father was a pastor in Plainfield.

HINTS AT PRESIDENTIAL BID: Walker peppered his speech with suggestions that the U.S. would benefit from policies he's enacted as governor of Wisconsin. And he ended his remarks with prescriptions for what the president and "leaders in Washington" must do and by promising to return to Iowa "many more times."

AUDIENCE REACTION: Walker won big cheers throughout his speech, including when describing efforts in Wisconsin to eliminate teacher tenure and during an extended riff on using coupons to save money at Kohl's department stores. At the end, he received a standing ovation.