Wisconsin Governor and former 2016 GOP Presidential hopeful Scott Walker’s campaign may have ended, but his rivals have wasted no time attempting to woo Walker’s financial backers.
So far, Senators Cruz and Rubio are benefitting, as is former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
According to the Washington Post:
“In the wake of Scott Walker’s exit from the 2016 race last week, Chart Westcott — a major donor and fundraiser for the Wisconsin governor — heard personally from four GOP presidential candidates. He spoke to the finance chairs for nearly every campaign and super PAC. And he got lobbied by local supporters of the various candidates.
“It was intense,” said Westcott, a Dallas-based biotech investor who bundled money for Walker and gave $200,000 to a super PAC supporting him.
In the end, he decided to go with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. “I wanted somebody who would completely shake up Washington,” Westcott said. “That’s what I thought I had in Scott Walker, and what I think I have with Ted Cruz.”
The current focus is on the nearly 200 bundlers who raised money for Walker, a diverse group that includes major Wall Street players and longtime GOP fundraisers across the country.
A substantial number are moving to Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, according to people familiar with the dynamics.
But other candidates are also picking off parts of the Walker fundraising network. Westcott said he’s working to draw others over to Cruz. And former Florida governor Jeb Bush has landed some big names.”