THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

Out of the sow's ear that is Scott Walker is a mean feat. If by mean you are saying cruel, dishonest and unreliable. Yet there are people, no doubt paid very well, who are trying to make the lipstick stay on the pig.

As Mr. Walker becomes the 15th prominent Republican to enter the 2016 race, the crucial question he must answer is whether he can cross the threshold of credibility so that someone entering a voting booth can imagine him as president, according to several leading Republicans and interviews with regular voters.

While Mr. Walker is ahead in some opinion polls, including for Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, a series of early gaffes alarmed party leaders and donors and led Mr. Walker to begin several months of policy tutorials. The collective hope is that Mr. Walker can avoid what Mr. Goeas and other advisers describe as Sarah Palin’s problem — becoming a candidate who is initially popular among Republicans, like the 2008 vice-presidential nominee, but loses luster because of missteps as the campaign goes on.

Mr. Walker is now emerging from his crash course with the aim of reassuring activists and contributors, who have given relatively modest amounts to his political operation so far. The goal is to no longer sow doubts with comments like comparing pro-union protesters to Islamic State terrorists, refusing to answer a question about evolution, or saying he does not know if President Obama is a Christian or if he loves America.

Whether Mr. Walker can demonstrate that he has a command of the challenges facing America, and is big enough for the presidency, will be tested in the coming weeks on the campaign trail and in televised debates.

Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Republican of Iowa, said Mr. Walker had “a lot going for him given that he’s a neighboring state governor who has been tried and tested on tough issues.” Yet Republican voters in Iowa want to be confident that Mr. Walker will not make political errors that might raise doubts about his capabilities and make Hillary Rodham Clinton look more prepared if she emerges as the Democratic nominee.

“Iowa is a state that rewards candidates who work hard,” Mr. Branstad said, “and I think Governor Walker will benefit if he shows he has done the work to be ready to lead.”

I'll bet Terry says that about all the candidates. But the real question is why anyone, for love or money, would try to make that nasty little weasel look good?