Gov. Scott Walker (left) says he has had three phone conversations with Donald Trump this month. Credit: Journal Sentinel files / Associated Press

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Cleveland — Gov. Scott Walker, who was assailed during the GOP primaries by Donald Trump, said he has advised Trump to stop criticizing other Republicans and focus his fire on Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"I said (to Trump) it's unsolicited advice, which I'm sure you get all the time, but it's my suggestion he really limit his comments about other people to Hillary Clinton and to a lesser extent Bill Clinton and Barack Obama," Walker said in an interview Tuesday with the Journal Sentinel.

"Don't talk about other Republicans, don't talk about other people, talk about the contrast between him and Hillary. Most importantly, talk about what you're going to do to make everyday Americans have a better life ... that's the best way to unite the party," Walker said.

The governor said Trump made it clear he found it frustrating that some Republicans have not gotten behind his nomination.

"I said, 'Don't worry about them. You won the primary. The best way to unite us as Republicans is to show your real opponent is Hillary Clinton,'" he said, referring to a conversation that took place in early July.

Walker, who is scheduled to speak Wednesday night at the convention, said he has had three phone conversations with Trump this month, beginning with that discussion at the beginning of July of Walker's speaking role at this week's convention.

The Wisconsin governor had an adversarial relationship with Trump during the primaries, and at the time he withdrew last fall, Walker urged other GOP candidates to coalesce against Trump.

Asked if he has a more positive view of Trump today than he did then, Walker said, "Absolutely, in particular this last week. I'm a huge fan of Mike Pence."

Pence, the Republican governor of Indiana, was named Trump's running mate Friday.

"The Mike Pence decision this week to me is a sign that this is somebody who is actually thinking about how to govern," Walker said of Trump.

Walker said he was not bothered by the broadsides Trump aimed at him when they were rival presidential candidates.

Trump resumed his attacks on Walker during April's Wisconsin primary, where Walker and other GOP leaders rallied behind Republican candidate Ted Cruz in what turned out to be a resounding defeat for Trump.

"He was critical of everybody and anybody he was running against. I don't take that personally. I've had far worse said about me, so that doesn't bother me. From my standpoint, that's just part of who he is. Whether you agree or disagree, it's hard to ignore the fact that for a lot of Americans his candor ... is appealing," said Walker. "I said last August any of the people on stage with me at that first debate were better than Hillary Clinton ... I think it's clearly true."

Walker said he was asked to appear at the convention by fellow Wisconsinite Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, who suggested that Walker and Trump speak to each other about it. The governor said Trump has called him twice since that first conversation to talk about the convention and the election.

Walker said of his upcoming speech:

"It's important at the convention, where you've got a nationwide audience, to talk about what Republicans are for and how we can do better ... than we would if Hillary Clinton were president."

Walker said he will pit the record of GOP governors against that of President Obama.

"That makes for a good argument that you put (in office) not just a Republican but in this case a Republican who's willing to shake up Washington," he said of Trump.