Walker says he's 'not looking for surrogates' ahead of Christie's visit. Walker to Christie: Thanks for nothing

MAYVILLE, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker says he needs more help from the national GOP in his reelection fight — and an upcoming visit from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn’t going to cut it.

Speaking with reporters after a morning campaign stop here, Walker said he is getting outspent on television and faces overwhelming hostility from national Democratic groups and labor unions.


Asked if he was satisfied with the support he’s received from national Republicans, Walker indicated he hopes to get more backup from the Republican Governors Association. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who chairs the RGA, is coming to campaign for Walker this week — but the Wisconsin Republican said he’s “not looking for surrogates.”

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“[Christie] is coming because he asked if he could come and we weren’t going to say no,” Walker said. “But we’re not looking for surrogates. The people that have been campaigning with me are by and large from Wisconsin.”

It’s TV spending, Walker emphasized, where national Republicans can make the biggest difference. So far, he said, the out-of-state effort on his behalf “pales in comparison” to what his coalition of foes have spent on the other side.

“I’m hopeful that, just as they have in the past, at least some of the national governors associations have come in and helped,” Walker said. “We can’t coordinate [spending with outside groups] in this state, so we have to see it once it’s up on the air. But they did in 2010 and 2012 and I’m hopeful — I believe they will again this time.”

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National strategists tracking the race have privately expressed surprise at Walker’s now-repeated claims that he’s losing the Wisconsin air war. The RGA is on track to spend $8 million on his reelection, far exceeding the $5.2 million it spent on Walker’s first campaign and on the heels of nearly $9 million it spent to help him turn back a 2012 recall campaign.

In just the last week of the campaign, RGA plans to spend $2 million on the Walker race.

RGA communications director Gail Gitcho said the committee is lock step behind Walker’s bid.

“The RGA has been all-in in Wisconsin from the beginning. Gov. Walker is an excellent governor, and we’re going to do everything we can to help get him across the finish line,” Gitcho said.

( Also on POLITICO: Christie bullish on GOP govs' chances)

Walker’s new, prickly comments come just a few days after the conservative Weekly Standard magazine reported that “top Wisconsin Republicans” fear the Christie-led RGA is declining to go all-out on Walker’s behalf.

The Wisconsin governor pointed out Monday that his opponent, Mary Burke, had already brought in Bill Clinton to campaign for her and that President Barack Obama is visiting Milwaukee on Tuesday — a sign of the significance national Democrats attach to the race.

But Walker dismissed the importance of surrogate campaigners at this stage of the race — including Christie.

Christie, he noted, has “come here before. I’m happy he came.”

“He’s actually a lot of fun to campaign with,” Walker said, adding: “To me, [the election] is ultimately going to be about whether people think I or Mary Burke is the right person.”

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