Republican Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said today he is running for president, but he didn’t offer much of a galvanizing reason. He needs to raise his game.
Hutchinson, age 72, seems to have been around forever. Way back when Bill Clinton was in his second term as governor of Arkansas, Hutchinson was a U.S. attorney there, watching Clinton’s shenanigans. Hutchinson lost two statewide races in Arkansas before Clinton ever became president. He eventually made it to Congress, and then to several key appointive positions, and finally to the governorship. He always has seemed to keep his nose clean and be competent and reasonably consistent philosophically, but has never been associated with extraordinary reform or issue advocacy.
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If you want a safe, competent, consistently conservative-leaning candidate, well, he’s the man for you. The Republican Party and the United States certainly could do worse.
On the other hand, if Hutchinson wants to win, he’ll need to stand out. As they sang in Grease, “conventionality belongs to yesterday,” or so it seems in modern politics.
In his April 2 interview with Jonathan Karl on ABC’s This Week, Hutchinson offered thin gruel. Granted, Karl didn’t give him much room to make his own case, because Karl was more interested in what Hutchinson had to say about Donald Trump. Still, even when Hutchinson had a chance to offer something interesting, he provided pablum instead.
“I’m convinced that people want leaders that appeal to the best of America and not simply appeal to our worst instincts.,” he said. “That inspires me when I see everyday Americans just saying, give us good leadership, give us common sense, consistent conservatism, and optimism about our great country. And that inspires me. And I believe I can be that kind of leader for the people of America.”
Asked how he would “break through” into greater public awareness of his campaign, Hutchinson offered nothing specific about a unique cause or issues. Instead, his strategy is “a lot of hard work and good messaging,” along with “retail politics.”
Hint: When a candidate actually talks about his need for “messaging” rather than actually delivering a message, voters snore. Still, don’t worry, Hutchinson offers more insight, namely that his platform involves “solving problems that face Americans.” How bold! How inspirational!
Hutchinson didn’t stop there. Perhaps trying to give Captain Obvious a run for his money, he said, “We have to talk about the leadership of America in the world whenever you have Russia and China taking advantage of any weakness that America shows.”
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Finally, in case there were any doubt, he assured us this: “I'm running because I believe that I am the right time for America, the right candidate for our country and its future. And it shouldn't hinge upon anything else.”
The good news for Hutchinson is that his formal announcements is several weeks away. He has a chance then to make a bigger splash than he just made today. He has those weeks to plan something that gives voters a reason to follow him. Again, he is a good man with a good résumé. So far, though, his message is mush.