Days ahead of the New Hampshire primary, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson snubbed former President Donald Trump and endorsed his main rival Nikki Haley via Mediaite.
It has been noted that Hutchinson, who could not gain momentum and consistently polled in single digits, announced on Saturday that he is backing the former South Carolina governor, noting that Trump will not “unite this country” as president.
“Anyone who believes Donald Trump will unite this country has been asleep over the last 8 years,” Hutchinson wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Trump intentionally tries to divide America and will continue to do so. Go @NikkiHaley in New Hampshire. #FITN”
Hutchinson withdrew from the GOP presidential primary earlier this week after ranking sixth in the hard-fought Iowa caucus. All through his candidacy, Hutchinson found it difficult to qualify for the GOP debates and consistently polled at the bottom of the primary.
Hutchinson’s endorsement comes after Haley’s former political alley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who was appointed to the Senate over a decade ago by Haley, announced his support for Trump at a rally in New Hampshire. Scott noted in his endorsement speech that Trump will be a president “who will unite our country.”
During the early stages of the GOP primary, Hutchinson was one of the few candidates to criticize Trump and called on the GOP to move past the former president as well as condemn him for the January 6th, 2021 Capitol attack.
Despite the endorsement, Trump still holds a strong lead in New Hampshire just two days before voters head to the polls with 49.7% average support, according to Real Clear Politics.
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. Go @NikkiHaley in New Hampshire. #FITN
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) January 20, 2024
