Gov. Walker to attend events with Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio before Milwaukee debate

MADISON -- Governor Scott Walker said Friday, November 6th that he would attend events with former Republican rivals Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio before next week's presidential debate in Milwaukee.

Bush and Walker will appear at a Monday event promoting school choice programs at La Casa de Esperanza, a Hispanic charter school in Waukesha. Later, Walker will attend a fundraiser with Rubio and state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in Burlington.

Walker said he was not endorsing a candidate yet and remained open to meeting with "any presidential candidates."

"If they wanted to come in and see some of the other things we are doing in Wisconsin, we are more than happy if our schedules can accommodate," Walker told reporters Friday.

Walker said he planned to attend Tuesday's debate along with his wife and college-aged sons. He will have no official role, other than welcoming the candidates to the state, after quitting the presidential race himself on Sept. 21.

Besides the event with Vos, Rubio has scheduled another fundraiser at the Milwaukee Athletic Club and a rally in Pewaukee.

Rand Paul said he would be holding a school choice roundtable at Shining Star Christian School on Tuesday, hours before the Republican debate.

Friday, the sound of drills and saws pierced through the Milwaukee Theatre as crews prepared for the candidates to arrive.

Forty stage hands are working 12-14 hours a day checking cameras, stringing cables, and custom-building building the presidential debate stage.

"This is amazing. You start from nothing and then as we progress through the last couple days, you get what we see in the background," said Russ Staerkel, Wisconsin Center District.

Organizers began looking for Milwaukee-area venues in January, settling on the Milwaukee Theatre in May. In August, the deal was completed, Staerkel said.

"When it's all said and done when it's over on Tuesday, I think people are going to know, that was the right thing to do and Milwaukee was the right place to have it," said Staerkel.

FOX Business Network and the Wall Street Journal are hosting the 6 p.m. undercard debate and the 8 p.m. main debate.