Gov. Walker: GOP has the best option with Romney, Ryan

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Gov. Walker: GOP has the best option with Romney, Ryan

Wisconsin governor talks unemployment, failed policies

This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," August 28, 2012. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: My next guest was on the stage below earlier tonight. Joining me now from the floor of the convention, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

Governor, welcome back. Huge reaction to you tonight, I'm sure you're very appreciative.

GOV. SCOTT WALKER, R-WIS.: I was indeed. You know, we don't do it for accolades, we don't do it for applause, we do it because it's the right thing. It was nice to hear that from the delegates.

HANNITY: You know what, Governor, one of the things you spoke about in the speech, and I think one of the issues you faced as governor, and we'll talk to John Kasich in a minute, you faced a huge budget deficit. Then you faced unions coming after you, but you went directly to the people of Wisconsin and you got bigger numbers you did in 2010. Do you anticipate that there's something we can read into that with this election?

WALKER: I think there's no doubt about it. I talked about it tonight. I think not just my state, but John's state, Michigan, Iowa and other battleground states, particularly in the Midwest. What people want, particularly swing voters, is they want leaders that have the courage to take on tough issues.

We showed it in Wisconsin. As you mentioned, Sean, we won by more votes than before. I think that's what they want out of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. That's what they're going to get.

HANNITY: You know, one of the things we're anticipating that Governor Christie will be a little counterintuitive tonight, pointing out what governors like yourself and Governor Kasich, what he did in New Jersey. And Nikki Haley, Bob McDonnell who also spoke tonight, that what you've been able to do on the state level we can do on a national level. It seems like it's more about ideas than maybe going after the president as some might expect. Is that the right tone to set in the keynote?

WALKER: Well, I do, because I think the indictment is pretty clear. I mean, 42 consecutive months of unemployment above eight percent. Last month,

44 of the 50 states saw an uptick in unemployment and 12 million fellow Americans are unemployed today.

People understand that things aren't working. For anybody thought they were electing Bill Clinton four years ago, the economy is not better, the budget is not balanced back when John was leading the budget committee back in the '90s in Washington. People understand they made a mistake. It's up to us to show we've got a better option, and we do with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.

HANNITY: It seems that one of the main themes that Governor Christie will hit tonight is that the American people can now accept and handle the fact that we are living in difficult economic times, that we're at a tipping point. And we either change things around now or we will pay a very dear price down the road. Very similar to what everybody's gone through in these different states.

WALKER: Well, that's exactly right. If you look at the difference between the states led by Republicans and those led by Democrats, last month the difference was a full one point better in terms of the unemployment in states led by Republicans.

We've shown state by state we can turn around the budget deficits we had without raising taxes, and most importantly, do it in a way that small businesses can grow. If we can do that one state after another, as Republican governors, there's no doubt another great former Republican governor, Mitt Romney, can do it for America.

HANNITY: All right, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on the floor of the convention. Thanks for joining us, Governor.

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