Nonetheless, most Republican elites are less familiar with Mr. Walker than they are with Jeb Bush or the candidates from the Senate or near New York City who have captured more media attention over the last few years. For most people, Mr. Walker’s audition is starting now, and, whether conservatives think it’s fair or not, his performance has raised doubts.
If he intends to win the nomination, he’ll have to dispel these questions — not just in the battle for the resources of Republican donors, but also to be taken seriously by the many voters who take their cues from news media coverage.
My sense is that Mr. Walker can do it. It’s a long campaign. But until he dispels these concerns, it will be hard to argue that he’s a clear favorite for the nomination, as some have argued — even if he would be very difficult to defeat if he proved to be as strong on the campaign trail as he was on paper.
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