Scott Walker Drops Out of Presidential Race
According to multiple media reports, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will drop out of the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
The sudden announcement is expected to be made official during a 6 PM EST speech in Madison, Wisconsin. The decision comes after Walker plummeted from the top of the polls to less than one half of one percent in the most recent CNN poll.
-RELATED: Lacking Oxygen and Charisma, Scott Walker Quickly Goes from Frontrunner to Afterthought
Walker is the second Republican to drop out of the race after former Texas Governor Rick Perry dropped out of the race earlier this month.
Watch live stream video of Walker’s press conference from Madison, Wisconsin below, via NBC News:
UPDATE – 5:44 P.M. EST Robert Costa of The Washington Post, had a phone call with GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, where he got his thoughts on Walker’s departure from the competition:
Trump is on phone now w/ @washingtonpost – says he saw Walker early on as top competition, but that view faded
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 21, 2015
"Maybe there were too many people around him… a talented guy, good guy." Trump on Walker to WaPo
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 21, 2015
Trump tells me he will reach out personally to Walker…
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 21, 2015
Trump on Walker: “I think he was really smart to do this now… It’s called, ‘let’s cut your losses and go back to work.’"
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 21, 2015
“The nice part about my campaign is that my money people will always be ready, 100 percent ready. My money person is me.” Trump to WaPo
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 21, 2015
Trump ends WaPo intvw w/ prediction: “I think you’re going to have other people leaving fairly soon," referencing single-digit rivals.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) September 21, 2015
UPDATE – 6:05 P.M. EST DNC spokesperson TJ Helmstetter had this to say about Walker’s withdrawal:
From the beginning, Walker’s campaign showcased the unabashed hostility that the Republican field has for working people, the middle class, immigrants, and women. No matter which Republican emerges as this reality show’s victor, voters will ultimately reject the Republican nominee’s jaw-dropping determination to cater to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class.
[Photo via screengrab]
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