Donald Trump laid into Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), characterizing him as an ineffective leader during a campaign rally in his home state.
The GOP presidential front-runner rattled off a litany of statistics at the top of the rally to portray Wisconsin as moving in the wrong direction.
“I wouldn’t have done this, but [Walker] endorsed Cruz. Am I gonna say he’s doing a great job? He’s not doing a great job,” Trump said at an event in Janesville, Wis.
{mosads}”[Wisconsin is] an incredible place, but it’s a place you have problems. But you have a governor that’s convinced you don’t have problems.”
Walker drew Trump’s ire by endorsing rival Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) Tuesday morning.
Trump cited a figure that Walker led the state to a $2.2 billion budget deficit. That claim, though, has drawn criticism from state Republicans and Politifact.
Trump went on to chide Walker for presenting him with “a plaque” to thank him, in part, because of previous campaign donations.
“I liked the fact he was fighting — he was always fighting,” Trump said of the governor who won three statewide elections in four years, including defeating a recall effort.
“But to a certain extent, I’d rather see someone able to make a deal without going through all that mess.”
Trump is currently locked in a tough race with Cruz for supremacy in Wisconsin, which holds its primary on April 5.