OLYMPIA -- Three Republican legislators were quick to say they are backing the newest entrant into the presidential race, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Sens, Mike Baumgartner, Spokane, and Doug Ericksen, Ferndale, along with Rep. Drew MacEwen, Union, said today they would help lead Washington for Walker. Baumgartner described Walker, who formally entered the race today, as "campaign battle tested and ready".

Their press release says Walker joins a field of more than 12 other candidates seeking their party's nomination. Actually, at last count, his entry makes it 15.  Alphabetically, it would be Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, Donald Trump and Walker. For full details, click here.

Walker's formal entry into the race also started up a counter-campaign that calls itself Puppet 2016, claiming he's having his strings pulled by the Koch Brothers. They pushed a quickie anti-Walker ad onto YouTube, which definitely has all the earmarks of a rush job.

Washington is both a caucus and a primary state. If previous elections' patterns hold, candidates who survive the early contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Super Tuesday may be dropping in searching for delegates.

 

 

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