By Steve Brawner, © 2024 by Steve Brawner Communications, Inc.
Could former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson be considering a third party presidential bid after all? He’s not shutting the door.
I texted the governor Wednesday evening after hearing through the grapevine that No Labels may be considering him as a potential candidate. That’s the group that’s been trying to put together an independent “Unity” ticket composed of a Republican and a Democrat.
The text conversation occurred a week-and-a-half after one March 11 when he said he was not the right candidate, and the group would need someone with a bigger profile and more money than he. He said he was considering other options in the private sector.
Asked in that second text conversation Wednesday if he was still not interested, he wrote, “No one offers the experience I have. If they can show a path to win and the money needed then I will listen to them.”
He left it at that. But it was quite a different answer than the one he offered March 11. Something has piqued his interest.
Party picks already decided; most voters are, too
I’m writing about No Labels partly because of the Arkansas connection, partly because that’s the only interesting thing happening in the presidential race, and partly because I’m not unbiased on the subject. Like many Americans, I want another choice.
It’s the only interesting thing happening because President Biden and former President Trump clinched their parties’ nominations practically before the process started. Both are known quantities, so not much will change moving forward. Biden will only get older while Trump will still display the same qualities that create such passions in people. Plus, he’s getting older, too.
In other words, we can look forward to seven more months of sound and fury that will move very few votes.
But if No Labels can field a credible third party ticket – at least that will shake up the math.
No Labels previously was best known for creating its “Problem Solvers Caucus” composed of House Republicans and Democrats who were supposed to create bipartisan, commonsense solutions.
The group last year decided to branch out into presidential politics. It started qualifying for state ballots, including Arkansas’, to leave open the possibility of a third party candidate in case the two parties gave us Biden and Trump.
Since that’s happened, the organization is moving forward with a selection process, but it’s having trouble finding a candidate. One after another of the more well-known names have said they aren’t interested. A lesser name mentioned in my previous column, former Republican Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan of Georgia, also backed out.
Inertia favors the status quo
What’s the problem? Presidential elections are still a winner-take-all process that overwhelmingly favors two parties, even if their candidates aren’t popular. The nation’s cultural battle lines have so hardened that many Americans either really support one party or really despise the other. Either way, they can’t be persuaded to change their minds. The big money Hutchinson was talking about naturally favors those two parties.
The resulting inertia is so powerful that even when the two parties produce seriously flawed candidates, other groups have trouble mounting a serious challenge.
That includes this time. If there’s not a credible third party challenge when the choices are Biden and Trump, what would it take?
Hutchinson’s desire to be president was evident as he continued campaigning in Iowa and New Hampshire even as he was at 1% in the polls. His comment that “No one offers the experience I have” indicates he believes he is as ready as anyone for the job.
He would not be the perfect candidate to run against Trump and Biden. With the way politics works these days, No Labels probably would prefer someone younger, richer and with more sizzle.
But so far, it apparently has not been able to find a perfect candidate. Given that situation, perhaps its selectors would be OK with a quiet, mature, restrained conservative with a long record of responsible government service. At 73, he wouldn’t be young, but he’d be younger than Trump and Biden.
We’ll see if a spot on the ticket is offered, and if he accepts it. If not him, then who would it be, if anybody?
Steve Brawner is a syndicated columnist published in 16 outlets in Arkansas. Email him at brawnersteve@mac.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stevebrawner.