Can Scott Walker Unite the GOP? (GQ)

[RogueBeaver]

Walker profile by Draper.

[IceSpear]

More so than any other candidate. A Walker/Rubio ticket would probably be least offensive to the largest number of Republicans, though Walker is more likely to choose Martinez, in my opinion.

The Tea Party and the nativist wing (though there's much overlap there) despise Rubio due to his involvement in immigration reform.

[Liberalrocks]

Not if he loses to Mary Burke and thats at least a 50/50 at this point.

[Lief 🗽]

Yup, he'd be a very strong candidate, which is why it's essential that Burke wins in November.

[Suburbia]

He probably can, but Pence can as well.

[Vosem]

It would be very anticlimactic if Burke were to win, though thankfully it seems like Walker holds a narrow lead as of now.

[Maxwell]

If Walker wins against Burke, he would be a very potent candidate in November and in the primary.

[Mister Mets]

There are a few knocks against him.

He may be seen as unnecessarily combative by some (although an attempt to emphasize that would make him more appealing to others) in comparison to Pence and Romney, who largely avoided these kinds of fights.

The lack of a college degree is a small issue. If he presents himself well, the narrative can be that he was in a position to choose a good job over the last year of college. But it leaves him more vulnerable to gaffes. There are reasons it's such a rarity to have a statewide officeholder who didn't finish college.

His biggest issue is lower name recognition. Before he can unite the right, he has to convince enough of them that he's the best choice.

[Likely Voter]

Hillary Clinton will unite the GOP, it doesn't matter who they nominate. 

[Clermont County GOPer]

Hillary Clinton will unite the GOP, it doesn't matter who they nominate. 

[folksinger]

Hard to say, but he would definitely unite the Democrats.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Hillary Clinton will unite the GOP, it doesn't matter who they nominate. 

[pbrower2a]

There are a few knocks against him.

He may be seen as unnecessarily combative by some (although an attempt to emphasize that would make him more appealing to others) in comparison to Pence and Romney, who largely avoided these kinds of fights.

The lack of a college degree is a small issue. If he presents himself well, the narrative can be that he was in a position to choose a good job over the last year of college. But it leaves him more vulnerable to gaffes. There are reasons it's such a rarity to have a statewide officeholder who didn't finish college.

His biggest issue is lower name recognition. Before he can unite the right, he has to convince enough of them that he's the best choice.

He has made lots of enemies. He is already an object of vilification throughout the Midwest among Democrats. Those Democrats will have even more time to hone an anti-Walker message.

Having no college degree? That is itself no problem, but if he harbors anti-intellectual resentments he will win big in places in which anti-intellectualism is popular. Bear in mind that his anti-intellectualism goes not so much toward Noam Chomsky as it does toward the more commonplace second-grade teacher.

He has name recognition -- but much of it is already negative.

His biggest asset? He will easily get the financial backing of anyone who sees him likely to gut workplace safety, environmental protection, and unions.