"I've been there:" Tommy Thompson, who dropped out of pres. race himself, has advice for Walker

MADISON — Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is back at work at the state Capitol after his abrupt exit from the Republican presidential race.

Walker's spokeswoman Jocelyn Webster said Tuesday, September 22nd that Walker was spending most of his day in briefings with executive staff and he would not make any public appearances.

She says that Walker "looks forward to continuing to work hard for the people of Wisconsin for the remainder of his term."

Gov. Scott Walker

Walker gave up on his White House bid on Monday, just 70 days after officially launching his campaign. He left after a steep drop in poll numbers and a lack of fundraising to pay for his staff and advisers spread across the country.

He's not the first Wisconsin lawmaker to drop out of a presidential race. Like Walker, former Governor Tommy Thompson ran out of money during his presidential campaign that ended in August 2007.

"I've been there. My heart goes out to Scott Walker because I can remember how I felt when I dropped out of the presidential race eight years ago," Thompson said.

Former Gov. Tommy Thompson

Thompson says this time around, there were too many candidates, too much Donald Trump, Walker wasn't assertive enough, and support fell off.

"When you're on the top, everybody wants to be with you -- but once you start sliding, your calls don't get answered. You see people on the street and they cover up their face like they don't see you," Thompson said.

Just 18 hours after announcing the suspension of his presidential campaign, Walker was back at work in Wisconsin. As if to prove it, Walker's office tweeted a photo of Walker attending a staff meeting.



But Thompson has this advice for Walker:

"Just relax for 10 days -- because it's a tremendously grueling, emotional thing. Then what I'd tell him is take a trip around Wisconsin. Go to every county, every county seat, and set up shop and reintroduce yourself to the state of Wisconsin," Thompson said.

Governor Scott Walker

Thompson says he expects Walker will serve the three years left in his term as governor, and then consider his options for the future.

"There are plenty of political things -- but the first thing he's got to do is clear his mind. He is going through tremendous turmoil right now and I wish he and his family the best," Thompson said.

Republican sources and a former campaign staffer say Walker's team built an expensive staff based on good early polling numbers in this presidential race. When it all fell apart, the money ran out, and Walker reportedly didn't want to go into debt to keep moving forward with the campaign.