Scott Walker in Iowa: ‘We did not inherit fame or fortune’

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told voters in the key early-voting state of Iowa on Saturday he didn’t inherit fame or fortune, but worked hard to achieve the American dream.

“I look back on my life, and my brother and I realized we did not inherit fame or fortune from our family. What we got was more important, and that is the belief that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can do and be everything you want in America,” Walker said in a short speech at an event hosted by Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).

“That’s the American dream!” he said.

The Wisconsin governor, who has not yet officially launched a 2016 presidential bid, has been leading other GOP contenders in recent Iowa polls.

On Saturday, Walker led a pack of 300 motorcyclists on a 28-mile route with Ernst for the “Roast and Ride” event.

{mosads}Walker said his first jobs were washing dishes and flipping hamburgers at McDonalds. His dad was a small-town preacher and his mom was a bookkeeper.

“We understand that true freedom and prosperity does not come from the mighty hand of the government,” said Walker, who was dressed in jeans, a black t-shirt and a baseball cap.

Walker slammed President Obama’s foreign policies, calling for a president who will view radical Islamic terrorism is a threat.

“We’re going to stand up and fight it,” he said. “We need a leader in America that Israel is actually an ally and should start treating it as such.”

“We need to lead from the front again in America,” he added.

Walker was the only speaker at the “Roast and Ride” event to note launch a 2016 White House campaign.

The other speakers were former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Dr. Ben Carson and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.