The Koch network is tipping its hand in favor of Scott Walker’s presidential bid once again. Art Pope, the North Carolina conservative who has been referred to as the “third Koch brother,” indicated at a fundraiser for the Wisconsin governor that he is likely to back Walker over the rest of the GOP field.
According to the Washington Post,
Before that lunch, the governor met privately with about 30 high-capacity donors, including North Carolina retail magnate Art Pope, a major conservative benefactor with strong ties to the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch.
“He’s not the most charismatic speaker, but I don’t think people are looking for the most charismatic,” said Pope, who has not yet picked a 2016 favorite but said he is seriously considering Walker. “They are looking for the best candidate who would do the best job governing, not the best stump speech.”
In April, David Koch let it slip that he was also a fan of Walker according to the New York Times, but Koch quickly back peddled and the brothers have since said they will be supporting multiple candidates.
Pope (not to be confused with the pope) is a mega donor for North Carolina’s most conservative groups and has helped bankroll multiple Koch organizations — donating at least $2 million to Americans for Prosperity in 2011 and $400,000 to Freedom Partners PAC in 2014. Pope is also a sitting member of the AFP board and founded its North Carolina branch. Pope’s nod to Walker reveals that the Koch network is still planning on investing heavily in Walker’s 2016 bid, and that even if they support multiple candidates, the brothers are unlikely to quit on the Wisconsin governor easily.
Read about the Koch’s long-term investment in Scott Walker below:
Koch Industries “Has Given Almost $1.8 Million” To The RGA And “Americans For Prosperity…Is Expected To Be One Of His Most Bullish Backers If Walker Ran For President.” According to the Associated Press, ‘Koch Industries, controlled by the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, has given almost $1.8 million to the governors’ group so far and is its leading donor. One of the outside groups backed by the brothers, Americans for Prosperity, has hosted Walker at events and is expected to be one of his most bullish backers if Walker ran for president.” [Associated Press, 9/17/14]
Kochs’ “Ties To Walker Appear Stronger Than To Anyone Else Considering A Run” In 2016. According to Bloomberg Politics, “The Kochs have pledged to marshal some $900 million to spend on a fight for the presidency, and although they may not wade directly into the GOP primary muck, their ties to Walker appear stronger than to anyone else considering a run.” [Bloomberg Politics, 2/17/15]
While Charles Koch “Has A Personal Affection For Kentucky Senator Rand Paul,” He “Doesn’t Hold The Same Appeal [As Walker] For The Kochs’ Donor Friends.” According to Bloomberg Politics, “While the older brother, Charles Koch, has a personal affection for Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, the most libertarian-leaning potential candidate of the bunch, Paul doesn’t hold the same appeal [as Walker] for the Kochs’ donor friends.” [Bloomberg Politics, 2/17/15]
AFP President Tim Phillips: “The Difference Scott Walker Has Made With His Policy Achievements Is As Transformative As Any Governor Anywhere In A Generation… That’s Why His Appeal Flourishes For Activists And For Donors.” According to Bloomberg Politics, “While Tim Phillips, the president of Americans for Prosperity, said that his group won’t endorse a candidate in the primaries, his praise for Walker is effusive. ‘The difference Scott Walker has made with his policy achievements is as transformative as any governor anywhere in a generation,’ he said in an interview. ‘That’s why his appeal flourishes for activists and for donors.’” [Bloomberg Politics, 2/17/15]
New York Post’s Page Six: David Koch Was Supporting Gov. Scott Walker For President And Pushing Sen. Marco Rubio As His Running Mate. According to the New York Post’s Page Six, “Billionaire David Koch is backing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for president and is pushing Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his running mate.” [Page Six – New York Post, 4/29/15]
Koch Told A Guest At A Republican Governors Association Fundraiser He Hosted That He Was Supporting Scott Walker Because “I Like How He Took On The Unions And Won, And Reduced The State’s Debt.” According to the New York Post’s Page Six, “[David] Koch — who has been attacked by Democrats for his generous support of conservative causes — hosted a fund-raiser for the Republican Governors Association at his Palm Beach mansion last month, where 10 governors met with 90 deep-pocketed Republicans. ‘I am supporting Scott Walker,’ Koch told one guest in the ballroom of his 30,000-square-foot mansion. ‘I like how he took on the unions and won, and reduced the state’s debt.’” [Page Six – New York Post, 4/29/15]