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Walker says people outside of Washington like Trump

Walker says people outside of Washington like Trump
Posted at 2:21 PM, Jun 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-13 15:21:56-04

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker said Monday that when President Donald Trump comes to Wisconsin, he will see that people outside of Washington "still like his policies."

Walker spoke on the Mike Gallagher radio show about a fundraiser Trump is hosting for Walker in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Trump is also touring a technical college with Walker in the Milwaukee area.

The fundraiser comes as Walker prepares for an expected re-election run in 2018. Walker didn't initially endorse Trump, but came around after he secured the Republican nomination. Trump carried Wisconsin by less than a percentage point.

Walker promised in the radio interview that then $1,000-per-person fundraiser will be "one of the biggest events we've ever had for a statewide elected official."

Walker said in the interview that he told Trump's chief of staff, and former Wisconsinite Reince Priebus, that he should "Tell the president people outside of Washington still like his policies, still very much want him to move this country in the right direction."

The most recent Marquette University Law School poll of Wisconsin residents from March showed that 47 percent of respondents disapproved of the job Trump had been doing compared with 41 percent in favor.

Walker, who has previously criticized comments Trump made on Twitter, also said Monday that he would not discourage the president from using the social media platform.

"It's an effective way to talk directly to the people of your state," Walker said, noting that he also uses it. "The best thing he can keep doing is getting the facts out and pushing his agenda."

Walker uses Twitter to advocate for his policies, post family photos and cheer on Wisconsin sports teams. For example, on Monday he posted a picture he had drawn of himself in 1977 when he was 9-years-old and in the Cub Scouts, a happy birthday wish to former President George Bush and a plug for his fundraiser with Trump.

"Scott Walker is all in for Trump because he wants every dime he can raise from Trump," said Scot Ross, director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. "Now that he's in full campaign mode, Scott Walker appears to be the one elected Republican encouraging Trump to tweet more, not less."