So Scott Walker Is the Breakout Star...?': Wisconsin Gov. Blows Away Crowd in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (TheBlaze/AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is holding up his "go big and go bold" attitude as something Republicans need to emulate in Washington.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks during the Freedom Summit, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In a speech to Iowa conservatives Saturday, Walker ran through a litany of changes he's implemented that curtailed union power, relaxed teacher tenure laws, strengthened gun rights and restricted abortions. All resonated with a Freedom Summit crowd sizing up potential 2016 GOP presidential candidates like him.

"Our property taxes are lower today than they were four years ago," he said. "How many governors can say that?"

Walker shared stories of staring down union interests in the face of mass protests, constant jeering and even death threats to him and his family.

"Someone sent me a threat that said they were going to gut my wife like a deer," Walker said. "All they did was remind me how important it was to stand up for the people of my state."

He fought off a recall attempt and then won re-election last fall.

The neighboring state governor drew connections to the leadoff caucus state, noting how he attended elementary school in Iowa until his family moved.

Walker's performance earned rave reviews from conservatives on Twitter.

Strong speech from Scott Walker. Lot of bio, portraying himself as ordinary guy, saying conservatives should go big and bold.

— Alex Pappas (@AlexPappas) January 24, 2015

Crowd here in Iowa going wild for Scott Walker

— Matthew Boyle (@mboyle1) January 24, 2015

Scott Walker 2016 begins today. After this speech to #FreedomSummit no way he doesn't become formidable presidential candidate.

— Matthew Boyle (@mboyle1) January 24, 2015

@scottwalker - home run at the #freedomsummitt

— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) January 24, 2015

So, @ScottWalker is the breakout star of this thing so far, right? #IAFreedomSummit

— McKay Coppins (@mckaycoppins) January 24, 2015

Watch complete video of Walker's speech here via C-SPAN.

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Follow Zach Noble (@thezachnoble) on Twitter