Wisconsin's Walker jumps into campaign

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a preacher's son who withstood a recall election spawned by his fight with public employee unions, is joining the crowded Republican presidential race, aides said Thursday.

Having spent the past several months traveling the country, speaking to conservatives, courting voters and scoring well in some early polls, Walker officially will enter the race July 13 with a campaign announcement in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, the aides said.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the campaign launch publicly.