TIME magazine named Gov. Scott Walker, a possible 2016 GOP presidential candidate, to its TIME 100 annual list of the most influential people in the world Thursday.
Another possible presidential hopeful, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, provided the write-up that accompanied Walker’s name on the list, in which he praised Walker’s record and his victory in the 2012 recall elections.
“I am certainly humbled by this honor,” Walker said in a statement. “But being named to this list is not about me; this is about our bold reforms and what they have accomplished. Together, we turned a $3.6 billion deficit into a nearly $1 billion surplus, cut taxes by $2 billion, and helped the private sector create more than 100,000 jobs and nearly 17,000 new businesses. We are turning things around, and we are moving Wisconsin forward!”
The full TIME 100 list is available on TIME’s website and will appear in print in the May 5 magazine issue.
Rumors that Walker may be considering a 2016 presidential run have received much national media attention. Professor Larry J. Sabato, a prominent political analyst at the University of Virginia has placed, Walker in the top tier of his 2016 presidential watch list, citing his “heroic conservative credentials” and saying he has “shown political durability” during the recall elections. Walker was previously the top GOP candidate, before former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush replaced him recently.
Walker faces a fall 2014 re-election challenge from likely Democratic nominee Mary Burke, a Madison School Board member who was previously the state commerce secretary and former Trek Bicycle executive.
A poll released Wednesday by Democratic-leaning polling firm Public Policy Polling had Walker leading Burke 48-45 percent.
Sabato perfectly predicted President Barack Obama’s victory in the 2012 election, with a perfect prediction for the popular vote and a near-perfect prediction for the Electoral College vote, according to his staff biography on the University of Virginia Center for Politics website.
