Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) on Thursday took a shot at Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt RomneySenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg McConnell says Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote GOP-led panel to hear from former official who said Burisma was not a factor in US policy MORE and his apparent moves to launch another White House bid, suggesting that the 2012 nominee and his ideas are past.

While Walker praised the former Massachusetts governor personally, he said "it's pretty hard to make an argument about going forward, you know, when you're arguing about people and ideas from the past," according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Walker said the "best way to counter" former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential front-runner, is to offer "a fresh face with new ideas to move the party and ultimately the country forward."

Romney's private announcement to a group of donors late last week that he was considering a third White House bid has fallen mostly flat among Republican lawmakers and potential 2016 primary rivals, such as Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) who called the possibility the "definition of insanity."

Still, numerous reports have shown the 2012 GOP nominee is reaching out to gauge support among potential donors and aides, and he has brought on at least one staff member, Colin Reed, to work as a media liaison. Reed most recently served as campaign manager for former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown's Senate bid in the early voting state of New Hampshire.

Walker, who has hired a potential campaign manager and dropped hints about his own potential presidential run in his State of the State speech earlier this week, is moving to emphasize his in-state accomplishments and aggressive early-term agenda.

Walker and Romney will both speak at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting in San Diego on Thursday and Friday nights, respectively. Walker is also slated to speak at events in Iowa and Washington, D.C., later this month.