Hutchinson says he has qualified for GOP debate

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson announced on Sunday that he has qualified for the upcoming GOP primary debate.

Hutchinson, the former Arkansas governor, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” that he has surpassed the 40,000 individual donor threshold and also previously met the polling criteria.

“Yes, I will be on the stage. I’m pleased to announce that we have met all the criteria that the RNC [Republican National Committee] set to be on the debate stage. We’ve met the polling criteria, and now, we have met the 40,000 individual donor criteria. We’ve submitted to the RNC 42,000 individual donors, and I’m delighted and thank everybody for helping me to make this threshold. The debate is going to be exciting and very important.”

When it comes to signing a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee, another qualifying factor to make it to the debate stage, Hutchinson said he would – but that he doesn’t believe the eventual nominee would be former President Trump.

“I’ll sign the pledge. I’m confident that Donald Trump is not going to be the nominee of the party, and I’ve always supported the nominee. So I’m going to sign the pledge and be on there,” he said.

The first debate hosted by the RNC will take place on Wednesday. Trump has indicated he will not join the debate, citing his high poll numbers. Trump has indicated he would not sign the RNC pledge should the GOP nominee not be him.

When Hutchinson was pressed again on whether he would support Trump if he is the nominee, he said, “I’m going to support the nominee of the party. I do not expect it to be Donald Trump. And that I’m sure question will come up in the debate so stay tuned for that.”