Looks like Wisconsin voters are smarter than the pundits. After all, who in their right mind rejects so-called "free" money?

..................................................................................................................................
Time sees Scott Walker's rejection of Medicaid dollars as a political boon
By Steven Elbow, November 4, 2013

Referring to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's decision to reject the federal Medicaid expansion and shift 92,000 low-income folks over to Obamacare exchanges, Time notes:

"It’s an approach that could prove to be a political boon for Walker, who is frequently mentioned as a potential Republican presidential candidate for 2016."

Even though Walker puts on a poker face whenever he's asked about his presidential intentions, he rarely gets a mention in the national press without the year 2016 coming up. And in some cases he's moving up the ladder.

In this Washington Post horserace story Sunday, Chris Cillizza bumps the Wisconsin governor from No. 7 in September to No. 4 in the GOP field, a full five spots ahead of fellow cheesehead U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, who so far has been in front of Walker in most rankings.

"There appears to be a significant dialing back of Ryan’s interest in a presidential run from even a few months ago," Cillizza writes. "And as several Republicans noted to us, the Wisconsin congressman’s really not doing much to build the beginnings of a presidential bid."

Cillizza, however, ranks New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — expected to win a decisive reelection in a blue state this week — as the hands-down favorite.

Neither Time nor the Post mentions this recent Marquette Law School poll showing Walker in a tight re-election race next year.

And as far as Walker's rejection of Medicaid funding goes, it might play well nationally, but could be a vote-loser in Wisconsin. A recent report blames Walker's decision for contributing to health care premiums that are in some cases nearly double those in neighboring Minnesota. That's because the Medicaid patients who are going to be forced onto the exchanges are poorer, and therefore more unhealthy, than the average health care shopper.
..................................................................................................................................