Natalia Chi
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson estimates that he will make a decision on the following within the next two months. whether he is running for president.
“Maybe April,” he told CBS News congressional correspondent Nicole Killion on Monday night’s “Red & Blue.” , noted that it is likely to hold a candidate forum by July of this year.
Hutchinson said the deciding factor for him will be whether he continues to “get a response to the message I put out.”
“It’s been very positive so far,” he told Killion. increase. He also added, “We’re the number one pro-life state in Arkansas.”
He summed up his track record as governor as one of “problem-solving” and not “reactionary, vengeful and angry.”
“Anytime we look at a candidate we present, it has to be someone who can attract independent and suburban voters. did not”.
Hutchinson feels he still has time to decide, given the slow development in this area. So far, only former President Trump has announced a candidacy. Former Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to become his second Republican in the race. Plans to announce that she’s running Later this month, February 15th.
The former Arkansas governor also predicted that the field would be crowded, at least early in the race, but “someone will catch up” after Iowa or New Hampshire, the earliest voting states in the GOP nomination contest.
But Hutchinson has already sided with the front-runner, the former president, and he did so again on Monday.
On January 6, 2021, he said of Trump, “I believe he should never disqualify himself and serve our country again as a result of what happened.” Yes, I am sure.”
But Hutchinson refused to offer a yes or no answer when asked if he would support Trump if he became the Republican nominee again. He hinted that the party may be considering a pledge of allegiance, as rules for participation in debates are still being drafted.
In the 2016 election, the RNC asked Republican presidential candidates to sign a pledge not to run as an independent candidate if they lost the nomination. It was a move to keep Trump from running as a third-party candidate if he lost, but he ultimately won the nomination.
“I’m not going to give a definitive answer here because the RNC is still working out the rules of the debate,” Hutchinson said. “I don’t like having to make pledges beforehand.”
He said he doesn’t believe Trump will win the nomination.
Nonetheless, he added, “As for what it takes for the RNC to join, let’s see how it develops.
Grace Kazarian contributed to this report.
Nicole Killion
