Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) has been making headlines due to the pro-union protesters who assembled on his lawn last week. Walker has not had a firm stance on the impending legislation that could make Wisconsin a right-to-work state. If passed, the bill gives employees the option to be enrolled in a union, rather than membership being automatic. Unions wield power in their industries when they have large numbers; Wisconsin becoming a right-to-work state could impact its bargaining power.

Historically, Walker has been against required union membership, and while he has stated that he does not want to make a ruling either way, The New York Times reported, Walker “will indeed sign the measure if it comes to his desk.”

The battle between pro-unioners and the governor may go dormant once he makes his final ruling, however, this will come back to haunt him if Walker runs for president in 2016, which he has suggested he will.

The governor needs to make a firm decision that not only reflects his values, but benefits the state of Wisconsin. This action will show his ability as a leader to make important decisions that impact a multitude of people. Whether the governor succumbs to union pressures or sticks to his beliefs, his decision will determine if he starts his campaign on rocky footing or on solid ground.

Political pundits, strategists and average citizens alike have made their preliminary predictions as to how the 2016 presidential election will transpire: a republican versus Hillary Clinton. The potential GOP nominee will most likely come from a pool of figures from different sects of the right, and that Olympic-sized pool increases daily.

Middle-right contender Walker has proven to be a staunch conservative, by promoting and funding school choice. This allows students to go to schools that are not within their district through a voucher program. He has also proposed drug testing for government beneficiaries, and signed Act 23, voter identification legislation.

But the governor has also created a stir within the party for his soft answers to a variety of firm questions. Some of these questions were regarding issues like immigration and the summer border crisis. And it didn’t stop there — the governor avoided answering numerous questions about combating the Islamic State group, among others, on his trip to London earlier this month.

Although Walker was attempting to be politically correct on his overseas trip, this speaks to his character as a leader. Sure, politicians love to skirt controversial questions that will put their names in headlines, however, when pursuing a highly competitive presidential nomination, it’s probably best to just be frank with your views and hope for the best.

The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition recently confirmed Walker, as well as other presidential hopefuls such as Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, to speak at its 15th Annual Spring Kick-Off in April. A combination of his behavior in the mean time, plus his speech at this conference, can either make or break his potential presidential campaign.

Vanessa Salman is a sophomore policy studies major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at vksalman@syr.edu and on Twitter @VanessaSalman.

Published on February 25, 2015 at 12:15 am