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| Scott Walker drops out of US 2016 presidential race | Scott Walker drops out of US 2016 presidential race |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Once considered a front-runner, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has decided to end his campaign for US president amid dwindling contributions and plummeting poll numbers. | |
| Unlike some rivals, the Republican had a large and costly campaign operation. | Unlike some rivals, the Republican had a large and costly campaign operation. |
| He topped polls in the beginning of 2015 but lost popularity as Donald Trump began to dominate the race. | He topped polls in the beginning of 2015 but lost popularity as Donald Trump began to dominate the race. |
| A recent CNN poll shows he had support of less than one half of one percent of Republican primary voters. | A recent CNN poll shows he had support of less than one half of one percent of Republican primary voters. |
| "Today I believe that I am being called to lead by helping to clear the field in this race so a positive conservative message can rise to the top of the field," Mr Walker said on Monday. | "Today I believe that I am being called to lead by helping to clear the field in this race so a positive conservative message can rise to the top of the field," Mr Walker said on Monday. |
| He encouraged other underperforming Republican presidential candidates to also exit the race so voters will have "a positive conservative alternative" to Mr Trump. | He encouraged other underperforming Republican presidential candidates to also exit the race so voters will have "a positive conservative alternative" to Mr Trump. |
| Some analysts believe Mr Trump, who is at odds with Republican leadership on key issues like tax policy, has benefited as voters have split over a field of more than a dozen candidates. | Some analysts believe Mr Trump, who is at odds with Republican leadership on key issues like tax policy, has benefited as voters have split over a field of more than a dozen candidates. |
| Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter | Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter |
| One of the mighty has fallen. Earlier this year Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was considered a top-tier presidential contender with the potential to unite the establishment and grass-roots wings of the Republican Party. | One of the mighty has fallen. Earlier this year Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was considered a top-tier presidential contender with the potential to unite the establishment and grass-roots wings of the Republican Party. |
| Instead, the governor is heading back to Wisconsin months before Iowa - a nearby state he once was a favourite to win - holds its first-in-the-nation caucuses. | Instead, the governor is heading back to Wisconsin months before Iowa - a nearby state he once was a favourite to win - holds its first-in-the-nation caucuses. |
| The post-mortem reports on the Walker campaign will likely focus on the candidate's numerous public missteps after he shot to prominence in early 2015 - such as comparing his state's union protestors to Islamic State militants and taking no position on the theory of evolution. | The post-mortem reports on the Walker campaign will likely focus on the candidate's numerous public missteps after he shot to prominence in early 2015 - such as comparing his state's union protestors to Islamic State militants and taking no position on the theory of evolution. |
| His support didn't crater until his lacklustre performance in the first two Republican debates, however, when he seemed unwilling or unable to vie for attention on the crowded stage. | His support didn't crater until his lacklustre performance in the first two Republican debates, however, when he seemed unwilling or unable to vie for attention on the crowded stage. |
| Reports abounded that his donors were starting to look elsewhere - to competitors like former business executive Carly Fiorina, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Mr Walker was likely facing a cold truth. He had built the infrastructure for a national campaign, but the money to run it was about to dry up. | Reports abounded that his donors were starting to look elsewhere - to competitors like former business executive Carly Fiorina, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Mr Walker was likely facing a cold truth. He had built the infrastructure for a national campaign, but the money to run it was about to dry up. |
| Mr Walker rose to national prominence for his opposition to organised labour groups. | Mr Walker rose to national prominence for his opposition to organised labour groups. |
| As Wisconsin governor, he sparked large protests after rolling back protections for public sector unions. | As Wisconsin governor, he sparked large protests after rolling back protections for public sector unions. |
| He overcame a recall attempt in 2012 by his political opponents and was later re-elected as governor in 2014. Those successes were often touted as central to his appeal as a presidential candidate. | He overcame a recall attempt in 2012 by his political opponents and was later re-elected as governor in 2014. Those successes were often touted as central to his appeal as a presidential candidate. |
| He rocketed to first place in early polling after a rousing speech touting independence from the government to the Iowa Freedom Summit in January. | He rocketed to first place in early polling after a rousing speech touting independence from the government to the Iowa Freedom Summit in January. |
| However, Mr Walker, an elected official since 1993, struggled to gain traction as Republican voters gravitated toward political outsiders like Mr Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. | However, Mr Walker, an elected official since 1993, struggled to gain traction as Republican voters gravitated toward political outsiders like Mr Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. |
| Shifting positions | Shifting positions |
| He was also criticised for shifting positions on several key issues including immigration reform. | He was also criticised for shifting positions on several key issues including immigration reform. |
| He originally said he wanted to make a pathway for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status and then said he only supported securing the border. | He originally said he wanted to make a pathway for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status and then said he only supported securing the border. |
| Mr Walker joins Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas who also recently dropped out of the race. | Mr Walker joins Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas who also recently dropped out of the race. |
| Fifteen Republican candidates remain. | Fifteen Republican candidates remain. |