South Carolina trip: Scott Walker billing himself as the ultimate common man, a staunch conservative

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As he chases the nation's highest office, Scott Walker is selling himself as the ultimate common man: a church-going, leaf-raking, football-watching, penny-pinching, Harley-riding preacher's son turned union-busting governor.

He wants Republicans in early primary states to know he's a staunch conservative, not that anyone seems to doubt it. And not just on labor, but also on taxes, spending, abortion and guns. He's even moved rightward on immigration and Common Core education standards, changing his positions to make sure he's in line with the most conservative factions of the Republican Party.

That pitch, on display in recent visits to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, played well for many Republicans seeing Walker for the first time in person, 10 months before they will help winnow the GOP presidential nomination field.