Former GOP presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson endorses Nikki Haley, says Trump divides America

WASHINGTON — Former Republican presidential candidate and ex-Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson endorsed Nikki Haley on Saturday, days before she tried to take on front-runner Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary.

Hutchinson is a conservative whose opposition to Trump was central to his longshot bid for the Republican primary before dropping out on Tuesday.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hutchinson said: “Anyone who believes Donald Trump will unite this country has been asleep for the past eight years. Trump is deliberately trying to divide America and will continue to do so.”

Hutchinson added: “Go see @NikkiHaley in New Hampshire.”

Haley’s campaign did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

After finishing third in the Iowa opener earlier this month, Haley has sought to appeal to independent and unaffiliated voters in the Jan. 23 New Hampshire primary to post a strong finish and close the race against Turning Trump into a two-person contest.

Hutchinson dropped out after finishing sixth in the caucuses.

His endorsement comes a day after another of their former rivals in the Republican presidential primary, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, endorsed Trump. Another former candidate, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, has also endorsed Trump.

Haley won the endorsement last weekend from former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican who had fueled speculation that he was preparing for his own third-party bid.

Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment.