Walker: Better to be ‘bland’ than ‘dumb’

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) would rather be “bland” than “dumb or “old,” he said Wednesday, shrugging off criticism of his lack of charisma while tweaking some of his opponents in a radio interview. 

{mosads}”The media is going to peg any prospective candidate with a tag. I’d rather have ‘bland and uncharismatic’ than ‘dumb’ or ‘ignorant’ or ‘corrupt’ or any of the other things they would label other would-be candidates out there — or ‘old’ for that matter,” Walker said on a conservative talk show on WTMJ radio in Wisconsin.

The comments are a dig at the press, as well as an implicit knock against perceptions of some of his likely 2016 opponents.

The governor surprised many with an impassioned Iowa speech last weekend that has helped move him into the limelight, and Republicans in early states and in the Beltway are buzzing about his campaign. The biggest criticism of the governor from GOP strategists has been that he lacks charisma.

Walker has privately admitted he was concerned about perceptions that he was “bland,” according to Republicans who talked to him before the speech. But the Iowa address helps counter that criticism — Walker said he might have “pushed that narrative off to the side a little bit after Saturday.”

But he said he’ll put style over substance.

“You don’t have to throw red meat all the time. Just say what you’re going to do, and then do what you say and get it done,” he said.

The governor will be in D.C. on Friday to deliver a high-profile speech.