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Former state Rep. Marty Seifert, one of the Minnesota campaign co-chairs for Walker, said he was surprised by news.

Seifert thought Walker was a quality candidate who was getting well-organized in Minnesota and had a good chance to win the state's Republican precinct caucuses on March 1. Seifert said he thinks Walker was having trouble staying competitive with campaign fundraising in the crowded GOP field.

"Mr. Trump and some other candidates probably had the ability to tap into personal wealth," Seifert said. "But Gov. Walker just was not in that situation. He had to raise money the old fashioned way, and that's difficult when you have that many people running for president all at the same time."

Seifert said he's now looking for a new candidate to support, someone who's a solid conservative with the broad appeal needed to win the general election.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Tim Pugmire

Author

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is exiting the race for president with harsh words for Republican front-runner Donald Trump.

Wisconsin Gov. Walker drops presidential bid

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