ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Likely GOP presidential candidate Scott Walker hopped across the border Thursday to mingle with Minnesota Republicans and while there discounted suggestions that Wisconsin's economy has performed worse in his time as governor than its Democratic-led neighbor. Walker's closed-door session with legislators - and later gatherings with top business leaders and a conservative group - come as he nears an announcement on a White House campaign after taking several preliminary steps toward a bid, including hiring staff and taking repeated trips to states with early primaries. He said a formal decision would come once Wisconsin lawmakers set a new budget, probably in early June.