IOWA, USA — After placing sixth in the Iowa Republican caucus on Jan. 15, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson has dropped his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
He fell behind other nominees like former President Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Hutchinson also fell behind Vivek Ramaswamy, who also dropped out of the race Monday night after finishing fourth in Iowa, and Ryan Binkley, a Texas pastor who failed to qualify for any debates.
A political professor at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, Dr. Williams Yamkam said Hutchinson's unsuccessful campaign had much to do with his traditional political beliefs and stances.
"He had a vision for where the Republican Party ought to go and where the country ought to go. And he stood by that vision, regardless of the criticism inside the Republican Party within the base itself," Yamkam said. "And regardless of his lack of support and monetary power inside the Republican Party, he stood with that vision."
Hutchinson hovered around the 1% approval mark for majority of his campaign and received only 191 votes in Iowa.
Yamkam believes dropping out with those ratings was a wise decision.
"If you're not moving in the polls, then what's the rationale for you staying in the race? That makes it harder for volunteers to join your campaign. It makes it harder for you to raise funds, it makes it harder for you to get your message out," he said.
To the disapproval of many Iowan audience members, Hutchinson announced he would not support Trump if he is convicted of any of his four ongoing criminal cases when asked about the former president potentially holding office again.
In an interview leading up to the final Iowa polls, Hutchinson said Trump has negatively redefined the Republican Party and is a weak candidate.
"With Trump having that kind of a lead in the primary, my responsibility and other candidates is to take on the front runner if you don't agree that he's the right one," Hutchinson said. "We've been doing that and there might be a short-term price for that. But long-term fear, fear-mongering, and grievances only take you so far."
He adds, "My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front-runner did not sell in Iowa."
Yamkam commends Hutchinson for "standing by his vision by what he thought was wrong with his body and by disagreeing with the visions of America that President Trump, Gov. DeSantis, and [others] are trying to sell to America."
The GOP presidential race continues next week in New Hampshire for Trump, DeSantis, and Haley. However, the debate on Tuesday, Jan. 23, has been canceled after Haley said she wouldn't participate unless Trump decides to attend.
Despite the debate being canceled, the candidates will still be campaigning and vying for a win in New Hampshire, the first primary of the season.
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