Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has admitted that he has strong reservations about running for the White House, saying, "You have to be crazy to want to be president."
Walker, who was re-elected this month, also indicated to Fox6 Milwaukee’s correspondent Mike Lee that he plans to remain as Wisconsin’s governor for four years.
"I’m not going to run just because of the pundits or anything else like that," replied Walker, when asked about his possible candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.
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"The closer you get to something like that the more you realize — and I say this only half-jokingly — that you have to be crazy to want to be president."
Walker admitted that his concerns about joining the race stem from seeing the toll that running the country has taken on President Barack Obama and previous presidents.
"Anyone who has seen pictures of this president or any of the former presidents can see the before and after," said Walker, who faced criticism about his bald spot during his campaign.
"No matter how fit, no matter how young they are, they age pretty rapidly when you look at their hair and everything else involved with it."
He added: "People look at this and say, why would I want to subject myself and my family to this, particularly my wife. We have been blessed that we have two sons, and instead of running away from it, they sort of got interested in it themselves.
"I think someone should run for president not because they want to be or yearn to be, but because they feel called to.
"Right now, I still feel called to be the governor of the state of Wisconsin, and I’m going to do the best job I can over the next four years."
His comments appear to send mixed signals, coming just days after it clearly seemed like he was hinting at a presidential run when he suggested that
governors make better presidents than candidates from Congress.
"I've got a plan to keep going for the next four years, but, certainly, I care deeply not only for my state, but my country, and we'll see what the future holds," Walker said at the time.
Earlier this month,
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan appeared to pull himself out of the running for 2016 race.
"The president thing, it doesn't have to be me," said the GOP’s 2012 vice presidential candidate, although he added, "I know I could do the job."
In June, the presumed
Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton said, "You have to be a little bit crazy to run for president, let me just put it like that.’
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