Gov. Walker Discusses Presidential Prospects at Wisconsin Bankers Luncheon

Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin addressed speculation about a possible presidential bid during a speech to the Wisconsin Bankers Association.

The Thursday luncheon, which also featured Boston Federal Reserve President Eric Rosengren, was billed as an economic forecast, though it included several allusions to the governor's national political ambitions.

During a question-and-answer session, a banker in the audience asked Walker about his plans for 2016.

"You'd have to be crazy to want to be president," Walker said, neither confirming nor denying speculation. "It's not something you should want to be because it's the next logical step."

Walker said he was cognizant of the toll that a national campaign can take on a candidate's family. "It's something you should only do if you feel called to do it," he said.

The comments came just hours Walker was booked to speak at an event in Iowa alongside other potential rivals for the Republican ticket. The governor has also hired a former adviser to the Republican National Committee to help him explore a presidential run, the Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

Walker opened his speech to his home state’s banking group with a not-too-subtle jab at New Jersey Governor Chris Christie — a possible rival — by commenting  on their now-viral Twitter exchange. Walker on Tuesday took to Twitter to make fun of Christie's awkward hug with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, during the team's game Sunday night. (Christie has since come under scrutiny for accepting gifts from the Cowboys owner.)

Christie responded yesterday, tweeting a Photoshopped picture of himself hugging the Walker on election night, adding the caption: "@GovWalker don’t worry … there are enough awkward hugs to go around."

Christie’s tweet "made an awkward situation even more awkward," Walker told attendees at Thursday’s event.

Throughout a speech about his economic policy priorities, which include cuts to income and property taxes, Walker managed to work in a few campaign-worthy flourishes.

Discussing bankers' role in the economy, he said working in financial services is about more than lending money. Rather, he insisted, bankers are responsible for "helping people make their dreams a reality."