Gov. Walker receives rousing welcome at GOP convention

Walker joined string of GOP governors addressing convention

TAMPA, Fla. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a conservative hero since surviving a recall vote this year, received a rousing welcome at the Republican National Convention.

Joining a string of GOP governors addressing the convention, Walker spoke Tuesday of how in June the people of Wisconsin had beat back what he said were the big special interests from Washington in rejecting the recall. That recall was initiated after Walker stripped most public employees of nearly all their collective bargaining rights.

Walker praised GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney for picking U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, also from Wisconsin, as his running mate, saying the selection showed that Romney had the “courage and passion to be an exceptional president.”

Walker said Ryan’s pick showed that the “R” next to Romney’s name stood for “reformer” as well as “Republican.”

In his brief speech Tuesday, Walker stuck to a familiar theme of Wisconsin jobs and the importance of reform.

“Now, more than ever, we need reformers — leaders who think more about the next generation than just the next election. That’s what you get from Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan,” Walker said.

Walker told a story about a Mosinee woman named Sandy Breth who was hired at G3 Industries as that company added jobs.

Walker speaks at GOP convention

He also spoke about the importance in history of politicians who looked to the future over their political careers.

“Let this be one of those moments. Let this be our time in history, so that someday we can tell our children and grandchildren that we were there, that we changed the course of history for the better. Let us tell them that we helped elect Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan to save America,” Walker said.

Walker was one of a number of Republican governors who were featured speakers in Tuesday night’s program, but he received the warmest welcome from the crowd, WISC-TV reported.

There was speculation this summer that Walker may take a more prominent role in the convention, but New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie gave the keynote address Tuesday evening.