Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson goes after Donald Trump at Iowa campaign stop
By Molly Dougherty, WEBN
Former Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson criticized President Trump in a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa. He talked to a crowd of mainly students who attend schools out of state.
Hutchinson previously supported Trump in his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns. He has since distanced himself from the former president. His campaign platform includes an anti-Trump message.
“I can also lead without the chaos. I can help our party win in November of 2024 in a way that a candidate under attack, under scrutiny, and under failure, and under chaos cannot,” Hutchinson said.
He calls himself the “only candidate” to not promise a pardon to Trump in the wake of his legal controversies.
“I believe that we should hold people that have committed wrongdoing accountable if that is the case. That’s a unique voice that I have, and I think it’s important in this race,” Hutchinson said to WEBN reporters.
Hutchinson centers his campaign around what he has called “consistent conservative values.” The former governor criticized Trump for straying from policy and not putting conservative interests first. He said the former president has changed politics and has greatly impacted the American people, specifically republicans. He questioned whether or not this change would be reversible.
“What Donald Trump has done to make the person greater than policy, to make entertainment the greatest attribute of a political campaign, it affects our future. You might as well move Washington DC to Hollywood. And I don’t think that’s good for America.” Hutchinson said to the crowd.
Going into tomorrow’s caucus, Hutchinson is polling at 2% amongst participating Iowa republicans. The former governor knows his campaign is a long shot, but he hasn’t given up.
“I’m playing to win, because if you’re not playing to win, you drop out. You play to win and you play to compete. I’ve worked very hard during this campaign to keep expectations low, and I’ve been very successful in that. Here in Iowa, I have an opportunity to exceed expectations, and that helps define you,” Hutchinson said to an audience member.