Walker launches ‘testing the waters’ committee

Scott Walker is launching a “testing the waters” committee, signaling his seriousness about entering the GOP presidential race.

The new committee will allow his political team to raise money ahead of the campaign’s official launch.

The website for the committee features a silhouette of Walker with his back turned standing at the entrance of a doorway and an option to donate.

{mosads}Walker has said he’ll announce his presidential decision once the Wisconsin legislature finishes its budget. That’s likely to happen near the end of June, with Walker widely expected to enter the race for the GOP nomination in the first couple weeks of July.

Walker has been moving in this direction for some time. The Wisconsin governor has pulled together a political team in Madison that will act as his campaign team once he enters the race.

He’s been visiting the early-voting states, has been a fixture at GOP cattle-call events and has been raising money through a leadership PAC and an associated super-PAC launched by his allies.

The Wisconsin governor will enter the race in the top tier of candidates, along with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.).

Walker is essentially tied with Bush nationally for the lead, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls. However, he’s seen his support dip in recent months as other candidates have gotten into the race.

Still, Walker has a big lead over the GOP field in Iowa, with 8.5 percentage point advantage over the next closest candidate, according to the RCP average.

Many point to Walker’s strength in the Hawkeye State as evidence he appeals to both the establishment and grassroots conservative wings of the party.