File:Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker at Joey's Diner in Amherst New Hampshire on July 16th 2015 by Michael Vadon 28.jpg

English: Walker officially entered the crowded 2016 Republican primary field earlier this week.

The second-term governor, who survived a recall election in 2012 after a high-profile showdown with unions the year before, made his first campaign stops in Las Vegas, South Carolina and Georgia in the next two days before visiting Joey's Diner in Amherst and a Harley-Davidson dealership in North Hampton on Thursday.

Walker leads GOP polls in Iowa. Andy Smith of the University of New Hampshire told the Herald earlier that week that Walker has large groups of supporters in the Granite State.

“He's well known, he's pretty well-liked," said Smith. “One thing I've been struck by in New Hampshire is his favorability ratings are consistently pretty high. The only one higher is Marco Rubio. He has a lot going for him early on."

In a video announcement Monday morning, Walker tried to distance himself from his rivals by casting himself as a governor who beat long odds to enact “big, bold reforms."

“In the Republican field there are some who are good fighters," said Walker. “They haven't won those battles. There are others who have won elections, but haven't consistently taken on the big fights. We've shown you can do both."

Joey's Diner Address: 1 Craftsman Ln, Merrimack, NH 03054 Phone:(603) 577-8955

Scott Kevin Walker (born November 2, 1967) is an American politician and the 45th Governor of Wisconsin, serving since 2011. Walker is also a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination to the 2016 presidential election. Walker served in the Wisconsin State Assembly and as the Milwaukee County Executive before his election as governor in 2010. He survived a 2012 recall election and was reelected governor in 2014, defeating Democrat Mary Burke.

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Walker was raised in Iowa and in Delavan, Wisconsin before attending Marquette University. He left Marquette before graduating to take a full-time job with the American Red Cross. Walker was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1992, representing a district in western Milwaukee County. In 2002, Walker was elected County Executive in a special election following the resignation of F. Thomas Ament; he was elected for a full term in 2004 and was reelected in 2008, defeating state Senator Lena Taylor.

Walker launched a campaign for Governor of Wisconsin in 2006 and ran again in 2010, defeating Democrat Tom Barrett in the general election. Shortly after his inauguration in 2011, Walker introduced a budget plan which limited the collective bargaining abilities of most Wisconsin public employees. The response to Walker's policies included protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol and an effort to recall Walker. In the 2012 recall election, Walker again defeated Barrett, becoming the first American governor to survive a recall effort. In 2014, Walker defeated his Democratic challenger, businesswoman and Madison school board member Mary Burke.

After months of speculation, Walker announced his campaign for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2016 on July 13, 2015, via social media.