The White House took the extraordinary move of apologizing for a Democratic Party statement that mocked defeated Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson after he suspended his campaign following Donald Trump’s Iowa landslide.
Biden’s reelection campaign is premised on countering the threat he says Trump poses to American democracy. But on Monday night, a Democratic National Committee spokeswoman ridiculed Hutchinson, who was the last remaining Republican candidate who had not said he would pardon Trump.
‘This news comes as a shock to those of us who could have sworn he already dropped out,’ said DNC national press secretary Sarafina Chitika in a biting official party statement on his withdrawal.
The White House rejected the statement Wednesday, after commentators noted it could alienate potential supporters.
Biden has ‘deep respect for gov Hutchinson and admires the race that he ran,’ White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said from the White House podium Wednesday.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients called former Arkansa Gov. Asa Hutchinson to apologize after the DNC mocked his witddrawal from the race for the White House
She said Biden considers him ‘a man of principle who cares about our country.’
White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients ‘called the governor to convey apologize on behalf of the president’ for the statements ‘that did not represent the president’s views,’ she said.
She dodged a question about whether any further action would be taken at the DNC.
The apology for the crass comment comes as Biden is facing internal pressure to improve the effectiveness of his campaign, as a series of polls show him trailing Trump.
The DNC ripped Hutchinson when he suspended his campaign
Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson suspended his presidential campaign after a poor finish in Iowa
Biden has called Trump a threat to democracy
Gutter ball: The DNC mocked Hutchinson after he suspended his campaign
The apology came amid Democratic calls for Biden to send heavyweights to his campaign
Biden is under pressure to appeal to anti-Trump Republicans, amid polls that have him trailing Donald Trump
Campaigns are won on the margins, and Democratic and Republican observers were shocked that the Biden camp wouldn’t try to seize an opportunity to cultivate, rather than alienate, a sliver of anti-Trump Republicans who might consider crossing over in November.
Posted conservative pundit Bill Kristol: ‘Hey @DNC: I assume you guys want the support in November of that slice of Republicans who admire Asa for being a decent and principled person, and for not bending the knee to Trump? Or is Biden so far ahead that you don’t need every potential crossover vote? Your friend, Bill.’
Hutchinson made an unusual target. His Iowa campaign secured only 191 votes. Although he had criticized Trump, his ‘return to normal’ campaign had many of the hallmarks of civility that Biden regularly says needs to be brought back into modern politics.
But the former governor, House members, Bush Administration official, and accomplished bowler had no ability to stop Trump’s well of support in Iowa. In his own statement on bowing out of the race, he congratulated Trump and his other opponents.
Although Jean-Pierre didn’t mention it, Biden has firsthand experience of getting blown out in Iowa. He scored just 1 per cent of the vote there in 2008, before caucus winner Barack Obama eventually put him on the ticket.