The Asa for America campaign released a statement today confirming that former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a GOP presidential contender, will persist with his campaign, despite not qualifying for the second RNC Presidential Primary Debate due to polling requirements.
Hutchinson stated, “Despite falling short of the RNC’s polling requirement for inclusion in the second Presidential Primary Debate, I will continue our campaign to bring out the best of America with events scheduled in Iowa, New Hampshire, and across the country in the next several weeks.”
He added, “I understand that the RNC and the media are trying to reduce the number of candidates, but I measure success based on the response I receive in early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire.”
A notable target has been set by the Governor. “My goal is to increase my polling numbers to 4% in an early state before Thanksgiving. If that goal is met, then I remain competitive and in contention for either Caucus Day or Primary Day.”
Despite falling short of the RNC's polling requirement for inclusion in the second Presidential Primary Debate, I will continue our campaign to bring out the best of America with events scheduled in Iowa, New Hampshire, and across the country in the next several weeks.
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) September 26, 2023
Hutchinson underscored his stand against former President Donald Trump as well, writing, “I entered this race because it is critically important for a leader within the Republican Party to stand up to Donald Trump and call him out on misleading his supporters and the American people.”
In line with this, the Governor is slated to hold a press conference in Detroit on Wednesday, aiming to “highlight his false promises to blue-collar and union workers in Michigan and across America.”
With the imminent second GOP presidential debate tomorrow, the revised RNC debate qualifications now demand candidates secure three percent in two national polls or one national and two state-level polls. Naturally, the debate will have fewer participants than the last one.
He ironically joins former President Trump, who was the early Republican presidential front-runner and skipped the first debate, in being absent from the second debate.
To qualify, candidates require:
- At least 3% support in two national polls or 3% in one national poll and two polls from early-voting states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina.
- A minimum of 50,000 unique donors, with at least 200 from 20 states or territories.
- Signing an RNC pledge to support the party’s eventual nominee.
The RNC announced its third debate will be held in Miami, Florida, a change from the previous proposal to hold the event in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in hopes the location would compel Trump to participate.
As the primary elections in Iowa and New Hampshire draw near, the clock is ticking for the underdogs.