URBANDALE, Iowa — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker highlighted a little-known aspect of his biography during an afternoon event in Urbandale, Iowa, telling the local Republicans that had turned up for the event that he had once lived in Iowa for several years.
“Just a couple of years after I was born in 1970, the first church where he was called to be the pastor was in Plainfield, Iowa, just north of Waverly… We lived there from 1970 to 1977 until my dad was called to a church in south central Wisconsin,” Walker said. The comments surprised and pleased many of the 60 to 70 that came to hear the 2016 GOP presidential candidate.
Just as important as the local connection to many in the room was the context: Walker describing how he lived and traveled with his preacher father as the latter spread God’s word. Walker won his fame battling organized labor in his state, but is now trying to broaden his image by talking about his religion and faith.
Walker wove several other references to his Christian faith into his stump speech during the event, a fundraiser for Rep. David Young, R-Iowa. They ranged from joking about what he has given up for Lent, to thanking anyone in the room who helped his recall and re-election campaigns with donations, volunteering and most of all “for your prayers.”
It was all the more effective for its subtlety. Walker rarely talked at length about his faith or beliefs or compared himself in that regard to other candidates. Instead he casually digressed to it while discussing other topics. At other times, he steered policy discussions in directions that would appeal to social conservatives, such as how he defunded Planned Parenthood in his state and “diverted the money to something less controversial.”
It registered with Ryan Sebek, an Urbandale resident. “I like the fact that he understands that he answers to a higher power,” he said.
Ann Dorr, a Des Moines resident, was more interested in hearing how a candidate would return leadership to Washington. She was impressed by Walker but added, “It’s still early in the process.”
Others were more effusive. “That was great. Now I know what all of the buzz is about,” one woman told a friend as she exited the event.
