OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker impressed attendees at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference here Thursday. The likely Republican presidential candidate received cheers and ovations from conference-goers when he mentioned national security issues like repairing America’s alliance with Israel and fighting terrorism.
“We’re going to tell it like it is and lay out that radical Islamic terrorism is a threat to us all. We’re gonna do something about it,” he said to the loud delight of the crowd.
Much of Walker’s speech, which he often delivers at other venues, focused on the Wisconsin Republican’s fight with labor unions, voter ID, and his frugality as a shopper at Kohl’s Department Store.
Walker placed a little more emphasis on Israel than usual, mentioning his trip to the country last week, and he also called to the lift ban on crude oil. The energy issue is a top priority for Oklahoma voters, and the conference’s theme is “Energizing America.”
At a previous forum in Iowa at the AG Summit, Walker also said he would like to see the phasing out of wind energy credits over “a period of time” and that he wants the ethanol mandate to continue. Walker took no questions from reporters after his remarks.
Energy business magnate and high-dollar political donor T. Boone Pickens is also an attendee at SRLC and is scheduled to speak at the conference later this weekend.