On Tuesday, Wisconsin Governor and former GOP presidential candidate Scott Walker announced his endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Texas Senator Ted Cruz while speaking on “Midday with Charlie Sykes” on Milwaukee, WI’s WTMJ.

Walker said, “I just really decided, after all these years of the Obama/Clinton failures, that it’s time we elect a strong new leader, and I’ve chosen to endorse Ted Cruz to be the next president of the United States, for three simple reasons.”

Walker then laid out the reasons, “One, I just fundamentally believe that he is a constitutional conservative. And why that’s important to me is, I know, as a governor, and talking to other governors across the country, we need a leader in Washington who understands that our founders intended for the power, really to be in the states, and most importantly in the hands of the people, not concentrated in Washington. And Ted Cruz not only believes that, he’s shown he’s willing to act on that. Secondly, I think something really important here in Wisconsin, and that is, that we’ve shown, as you well know, Charlie, that we know how to take on the big government special interests, and really put the power back in the hands of the hard-working taxpayers. That’s something, again, that Ted Cruz has not only talked about in his campaign. I think probably more than just about anybody out there in Washington, he has shown he is not afraid to take on the big government special interests, even sometimes when they’re aligned with our own party. He’s not afraid to take on those interests, and that’s exactly what we need for president as well. And then third, a very practical point, and that is, I just fundamentally believe, if you look at the facts, if you look at the numbers, that Ted Cruz is the best positioned, by far, to both win the nomination of the Republican Party, and to then go on and defeat Hillary Clinton, in the fall this year. And that’s the key, is we want people who are principled, commonsense, conservatives, who are people who do what they say, who stick to their guns, but also, people who can both win the nomination, and go on to defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall. And for that reason, I am proud to endorse Ted Cruz.”

He further said, “I wanted to make sure that I was supporting someone, I wasn’t against something, or against someone, but rather being for something, just as I’ve said many times in campaigns for governor. I want to be for something. And after a lot of time looking at speeches, looking at the records, looking at what the candidates not only say, but what they have done in the past, it was an easy call for me to support Ted Cruz.” Walker later developed this by stating his endorsement of Cruz was “not a default. This is something — I said I’m only going to this if I feel strongly. I feel strongly for the reasons we laid out.”

Walker later added that Cruz’s tax plan was “excellent” and has “a strong, strong record like Reagan did in terms of a plan to rebuild our military, at a time when we desperately need to show power in the world again.”

Walker also stated of Cruz, “I think the media doesn’t give him all the benefit of what I found personally interacting with him, and that is, he is a decent man. He loves his family. He loves his wife. He adores his children. He loves his country. He and I are both preacher’s kids. So, I certainly can appreciate, and feel strongly about the impact that his father had on him, as a minister. I think for the two of us having grown up in — we’re both in our 40s, he’s a couple years younger than I am, but we’re both in our 40s, and just the sense, that, as I did, and others did, like [House Speaker Representative] Paul Ryan (R-WI), we all came of age. We weren’t political forces. We actually literally came of age under President Ronald Reagan. And I just see someone who’s willing to uphold those same principles. And that’s why I’m proud to endorse him.”

Walker added that the could “absolutely” see himself campaigning with Cruz, and that while the schedule hasn’t been finalized, he will be campaigning with Cruz.

Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett