CAMPAIGN 2024: Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson ends GOP presidential bid, endorses Nikki Haley

FILE – Republican presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks in Des Moines, Iowa, July 28, 2023. Hutchinson is dropping out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination after finishing sixth in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses. The former Arkansas governor said Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, that his poor performance in Iowa showed him that he has no path to the Republican nomination. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

CAMPAIGN 2024: Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination after finishing sixth in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses on Tuesday.

Hutchinson said his poor performance in Iowa showed him he has no path to the GOP nomination. Hutchinson’s exit comes after he failed to register beyond 1 percentage point in most polls.

Hutchinson stayed in the race even as better-financed and well-known candidates such as former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott dropped out. Hutchinson was the last GOP candidate remaining in the race who was willing to directly take on former President Donald Trump, the front-runner.

Hutchinson has endorsed Nikki Haley, days before she tries to take on frontrunner Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary. Hutchinson is a conservative whose opposition to Trump became central in his longshot bid for the GOP primary before he dropped out.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hutchinson said: “Anyone who believes Donald Trump will unite this country has been asleep over the last 8 years. Trump intentionally tries to divide America and will continue to do so.” Hutchinson added: “Go @NikkiHaley in New Hampshire.”

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