Gov. Walker says Trump comments ‘Like watching a car accident’

Walker says candidates should focus on Clinton

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker called businessman Donald Trump “a side show” Monday morning in an interview on Fox News, saying he wanted to focus his attention on the GOP’s likely opponent in the general election, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Walker was asked about why he spoke up and made comments to that effect during Thursday night’s debate in Cleveland.

“It was literally listening in particularly after the first 10 minutes or so were about the guy in the middle and whether or not he’d run as a third party,” Walker said in the interview with Fox’s Bill Hemmer. “I thought it was important to remind people that the real opponent wasn’t on that stage or in the early debate you moderated so well. The real opponent is Hillary Clinton.”

Gov. Walker was then asked whether he agreed with comments made by Sen. Marco Rubio, who said if he commented on everything Trump said “It’s all I would do all day.”

“For a lot of us it’s like watching a car accident instead of focusing on the direction we should be headed,” Walker said. “That’s a sideshow out there.”

Walker said he also agreed with comments from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush that what Trump had said recently about a number of women, including debate moderator and Fox anchor Megyn Kelly, was wrong.

“The language he is using is absolutely inappropriate, not just for a presidential candidate but inappropriate period,” Walker said. “In the end I think voters are smart, and know that not every Republican shares the beliefs that one particular candidate does in the same way that not every Democrat shares the belief of every one.”

Walker has previously refrained from commenting on Trump’s language, with the exception of defending Sen. John McCain after Trump criticized his capture as a prisoner of war.

The governor reiterated that he plans to not criticize other candidates as the campaign proceeds, and said that should be a focus of upcoming debates.

“Instead of trying to divert attention on any given candidate, we should spend more time on what we’re for,” Walker said.