AP — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Asa Hutchinson, who served two terms as the governor of Arkansas, has announced his intention to run for the Republican nomination for president. He is positioning himself as a rival to Donald Trump just days after the former leader was charged with crimes by a grand jury in New York.
Hutchinson suggested Trump should withdraw from the race in an interview that aired on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, saying “the office is more important than any individual person.”
He declared, “I’m running because I think this is the right place for America, and I’m the right person for our nation and its destiny. “I’m convinced that people want leaders who represent the best aspects of America rather than just our baser instincts,”
After Trump became the first former president of the United States to be charged with a crime, Hutchinson is the first Republican to declare a candidacy. His run will put to the proof the GOP’s willingness to support those who oppose Trump. Others who have criticized Trump, such as the former governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, decided not to run for office because they realized it would be tough to win a primary.
Additionally, most Republicans in the party, including those who are contemplating challenging Trump for the nomination, have supported him against the New York indictment, demonstrating Trump’s continued hold on the Republican base. That puts Hutchinson as a clear outlier among Republicans, at least for the time being.