Walker announces US presidential nomination bid

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker used the micro-blogging website Twitter on Monday to announce that he would seek the Republican Party's nomination for the 2016 presidential election.

The 47-year-old Walker thus became the 15th candidate for the Republican nomination, including Jeb Bush, the brother of former President George W. Bush and son of former President George H.W. Bush. Ohio Governor John Kasich is also expected to enter the race later this month.

Walker's candidacy came as no great surprise, as he has publicly speculated about making a run for the nomination. He claimed strong numbers in polling not only when compared to the other declared Republican candidates, but also Hillary Clinton, who is seen as the frontrunner to win the nomination for the Democrats.

Walker was largely unknown beyond Wisconsin until 2011 when shortly after being elected governor, he took on unions representing state public employees, restricting collective bargaining rights and forcing them to pay more into their pension and health insurance schemes. The moves sparked mass protests inside and outside the capitol building in the state capital, Madison. He also survived a 2012 bid by his opponents to force him from office in a "recall" election.

Walker pointed to his reforms in a campaign video shared via Twitter on Monday.

"Wisconsin, we didn't nibble around the edges. We enacted big bold reforms, took power out of the hands of the big government special interests - gave it to the hard-working taxpayer," he said.

Both major parties are to elect their candidates effectively in a series of primaries and caucuses beginning early next years. The presidential election is scheduled for November 8.

pfd/jil (dpa, AP, AFP)