Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson made headlines during his brief run for president by criticizing former president Donald Trump's felony cases. However, his message failed to resonate with voters, leading to his decision to drop out of the race on Tuesday.
In response to Hutchinson's announcement, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) issued a dismissive statement. "This news comes as a shock to those of us who could've sworn he had already dropped out," said DNC national press secretary Sarafina Chitika.
The DNC's response drew criticism from leaders across the political spectrum. "It's disrespectful, it's mean-spirited, it's unnecessary, and it's obnoxious. I'm embarrassed for my party. My campaign is focused on beating Trump, it's a shame Biden's DNC isn't doing the same," expressed Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillips in a statement to CBS News.
Meanwhile, Hutchinson expressed his gratitude for the support he received from both parties. In a statement to CBS News, he said, "I am gratified that so many from both parties have rebuffed this type of ridicule as unnecessary and demeaning to all in the public arena."
The White House chief of staff, Jeff Zients, reached out to Governor Hutchinson to apologize on behalf of President Biden for a statement that did not align with the president's views, according to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Jean-Pierre added that President Biden holds deep respect for Governor Hutchinson and admires his campaign.
Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois criticized the statement made by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on X, referring to it as "stupid and dumb."
Democratic Representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania also expressed disappointment in his party, stating that while he disagrees with many of Governor Hutchinson's conservative views, he admires the governor's courage in speaking out against Donald Trump.
In his own statement, Governor Hutchinson emphasized the need for both parties to rise above pettiness and focus on issues that matter to the American people.
During the first Republican primary debate, Governor Hutchinson, along with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, were the only two candidates who did not raise their hands when asked if they would support former President Donald Trump as their party's candidate if he were convicted in a court of law. Governor Hutchinson later clarified that he would not support someone convicted of a serious felony and even questioned Trump's eligibility to seek the office under the so-called "insurrection clause" of the 14th Amendment.
Supreme Court to Review Decision on Trump's Ballot Disqualification
Following news that the Supreme Court agreed to review the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to disqualify Trump from the ballot, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign expressed optimism about the outcome.
"The Court's acceptance of this case is good news. The result will define the guardrails for the election," the spokesperson said. "We expect the Court to keep Trump on the ballot for now but leave the door open for future challenges. This cloud should concern the GOP."
It appears that Hutchinson is not the only major GOP candidate to face scrutiny from the DNC. The organization has also issued similar statements against Tim Scott and more recently, Vivek Ramaswamy, after they suspended their campaigns.
Prior to serving as Arkansas governor from 2015 to 2023, Hutchinson represented the state's 3rd District in Congress and was a member of former President George W. Bush's Cabinet. His political career began in 1982 when he was appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas by President Ronald Reagan.
