Asa Hutchinson only just recently filed to run for president in 2024, yet he’s already apparently acknowledging that he’s got a huge uphill climb if he wants to capture the Republican nomination.
On Monday, the former governor of Arkansas acknowledged the “gap” that exists between himself and former President Donald Trump in polling of how Republicans might vote in next year’s primaries.
Those comments came on the same day that Hutchinson went to events that were held in Iowa, all part of his now-public bid for president. Iowa’s caucuses are scheduled for February 5 of 2024, and will be the first state in the presidential primary season.
Hutchinson knows this, of course, which is why he’s stumping there not long after announcing his presidential bid. He had more events in the state scheduled for the week.
Hutchinson isn’t the first Republican challenger to Trump in the GOP primary, but he is the one who’s the most outspoken against Trump. In the past, the former Arkansas governor has said that Trump should just drop out of the presidential race.
That being said, he does seem to realize that Trump isn’t going anywhere, and that he’s the leading contender to win the GOP nomination next year. As Hutchinson said Monday:
“There is certainly a gap between myself and Donald Trump, who’s right now leading the ticket on the Republican side. But, that’s why you have campaigns. That’s why you have choices. That’s why I’m able to talk about the economy.”
Monday was also the day when the latest poll from CBS News/YouGov was released. It showed that Hutchson only had support from 1% of likely voters in a Republican primary contest that included not just official candidates but rumored ones as well.
The leading vote-getter in that poll was Trump, who had support from 58% of voters. The person who finished second in that poll was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who only had support from 22% of voters. A gaggle of other candidates and potential candidates all only garnered support in the single digits.
For instance, former Vice President Mike Pence and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy – the latter of which is an official candidate – both only garnered 5% support. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina who is also an official candidate, only garnered 4% support.
Coming in with 2% support were conservative radio show host Larry Elder and Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey. Along with Hutchinson, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott had 1% support as well.
To this point, only Trump, Hutchinson, Ramaswamy and Haley have filed paperwork to run for president on the GOP side. Pence and DeSantis are both expected to eventually decide to run for president.
Scott has been rumored to be considering a run, too. In fact, he has already teased a “major announcement” that he’ll make in North Charleston in South Carolina on May 22.
No matter who enters the race, though, they’ll all be working hard to try to catch up with Trump.
