Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was 34 credits away from graduating when he dropped out of Marquette University. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, while a medical doctor, never finished his undergraduate biology degree at Baylor University before he headed to Duke's medical school. And while Walker's and Paul's higher education credentials--or lack thereof--have drawn intense media scrutiny as November 2016 approaches, these Republican politicians' college education reflects the reality for nearly three-quarters of voting Americans. <\/p>\n
But unlike the rest of the general electorate, these men are also top contenders for the nation's highest executive office. According to a recent CBS news poll, 30 percent of Republicans would support Walker, and another third would consider voting for Rand Paul. <\/p>\n
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Controversial remarks made last week by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani have shaken up the race for the Republican presidential nominati... <\/p>\n
Examining Walker's chances of winning a GOP primary, CBS News' John Dickerson points out that the lack of a college degree \"clearly hasn't slowed his career.\" <\/p>\n
In fact, certain stories from Walker's life position the governor to campaign on the national stage as a political average Joe. \"Running against the elites who all have post-graduate degrees is always a safe place to be as a politician,\" Dickerson said. <\/p>\n
When allegations came out that Walker might have been \"forced out\" of college, the Journal-Sentinel conducted a thorough investigation that came out in favor of the governor's early years. <\/p>\n
\"I can say unequivocally that isn't true,\" Walker said in response to the Milwaukee newspaper's questions, and since then, the unsavory rumors have largely been put to rest. Walker has cited a job opportunity as the reason for his incomplete degree, and his senior year at the school also conflicted with his very first state political race, when he ran for a seat in a heavily Democratic district against state Rep. Gwen Moore in 1990. <\/p>\n
Even more than a political boon, Walker's distance from educational institutions could serve as a policy advantage. <\/p>\n
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How much do college degrees matter in the 2016 election?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was 34 credits away from graduating when he dropped out of Marquette University Continue reading