Yes the baggage in the context of having a conversation with a reporter about getting elected. David duke we all know could not get elected because of his KKK affiliations. Saying you are David Duke without the baggage is implying that you believe in what David Duke believes in without any publicly known affiliations with any group that can keep your from getting elected. David duke was known first and foremost for being a racist. It's pretty clear.
Your scout leader analogy is a poor analogy. David Duke was a well know racist. In other words if you didn't know anything else about David Duke, the one thing you knew about him was that he was a racist. Even David Duke came out and said, and I quote: " Scalise was his buddy (who he met “several times”)" So this guy Scalise in public doesn't want to be associated with David Duke once the heat is turned up, yet, in private they are "buddies"
So we have here this guy that 1) addressed David Duke's convention of racists, 2) Claim's he's David Duke without the baggage, And 3) is buddies with David Duke.
I don't expect you to take me seriously as you seem bent on being an apologist for this clown.