Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, governor is questioned on potential presidential candidacy and warns against threat of Islamic terrorists

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor, said in an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Thursday that his recent fight against public unions in Wisconsin had prepared him to confront Islamic State (Isis) fighters in Iraq and Syria, should he seek and win the US presidency in the 2016 election.

“I want a commander-in-chief who will do everything in their power to make sure the threat from Islamic terrorists will not show up on our soil,” Walker said. “If I can take on 100,000 protesters, I can do the same across the world.”

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Walker faced a recall election after signing legislation that stripped public unions of collective bargaining rights and curtailed public pensions. The unions bill has involved a dramatic fight, with thousands having taken to the streets of the state capital to protest against the action.

Also speaking at the conference on Thursday were Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor, Ted Cruz, the Texas senator, and Bobby Jindal, the Louisiana governor, but Walker was the only potential candidate directly encouraged by the crowd to run for president.

“Run Scott Run! Run Scott Run!” the audience interrupted him to shout at one point.

He responded by saying: “I did run three times in the last four years, so I’m getting used to it,” referring to his recall election win and his re-election in November 2014.

While Walker has formed a committee to explore a presidential run, he has not declared his candidacy. Yet he did not seek to a correct a questioner who asked him what he would do to take on Isis “should you become commander-in-chief”.

“For a number of years I’ve been concerned about that threat, not only abroad but right here on American soil,” Walker said, explaining that as governor, he receives regular updates about security threats.

After his speech, Walker said his comparison of confronting unions and a potential confrontation with Isis had been misinterpreted.

“Let me be perfectly clear, I’m just pointing out the closest thing I have to handling this difficult situation is the 100,000 protesters I had to deal with,” Walker told the Wisconsin State Journal.

He said he did not regret his statement.