Despite his well-deserved reputation for bold leadership in Wisconsin, on the campaign trail so far, Walker has started to become more defined by his pandering.

The comments to Iowa farmers come in the wake of his reversal on immigration and his muddled answers on the Export-Import Bank, Department of Homeland Security funding and other issues. His goal seems to be to avoid offending anybody. True, this, to some extent, is to be expected in any presidential campaign.

But if one of the arguments Walker is going to make to those who say he isn’t ready for the international stage is that, like Ronald Reagan before him, he’s a governor with strong convictions, he’s going to have to take stands that are unpopular among some audiences. And the fuel standard seems like an easy one.Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, spoke at the same conference, but he came out against the standard. “There are a lot of politicians who are going to tell you whatever you want to hear,” Cruz said. “I’m willing to bet I’m not the only person here who’s been disappointed with politicians in Washington, who’s tired of people blowing smoke.”