Even though Trump’s rise hasn’t disrupted Walker’s status as one of the frontrunners to take the nomination, it’s offered him the opportunity to go about his campaigning without the level of scrutiny that he’d otherwise have were it not for Trump. At this point, Trump’s hat will generate more media coverage than any policy pronouncement of Walker’s.

This gives Walker more space to operate in a steady, low key fashion as he prepares for the first Republican debate on Aug. 6.

Walker should take full advantage of this period in the race — while he has the cover of the media’s Trump obsession — to begin to flesh out a policy agenda.