Gov. Hutchinson says Europe trip to lay foundation for future, may also have speaking role at GOP convention
by July 10, 2016 8:55 am 299 views
Gov. Asa Hutchinson is not expecting to bring a major job announcement back from his European trade trip, but he does acknowledge the mission will lay the groundwork for future deals. He also said he will be busy with speaking roles at the upcoming GOP national convention in Cleveland.
Appearing on this Sunday’s Talk Business & Politics TV program, Hutchinson said the economic development trip to a London airshow and to open an Arkansas trade office in Berlin will continue “to build our presence globally.”
“I do not expect to come home with an announcement – we did last year – but that’s not my anticipation this year. This is just doing the hard work of economic development,” he said.
Arkansas has economic development offices in China and Japan. Hutchinson said a European base is crucial.
“Opening up a European office is very important for us as a state. We have one of our best global trading partners in Germany, France, the U.K.,” he said. “We want to be able to expand on that. We’ve got a great opportunity – whether it’s the steel industry or whether it’s aero-defense to be able to expand those opportunities in Arkansas. So down the road – whether it’s one year or two years – I expect certainly production to come out of these trips, but sometimes you just do the hard spade work and that’s what we’re doing this year.”
He added that the Brexit vote has increased the necessity for this trade trip and opening an office on the European continent.
CLEVELAND, GOP CONVENTION AND DONALD TRUMP
Hutchinson also said that when he returns from Europe and heads to the Cleveland national GOP convention, he expects to see growing party unity for presumptive Presidential nominee Donald Trump and clarified positions for the Republican brand.
“Donald Trump is the presumed nominee. I don’t see any issue that might take that nomination away from him. I don’t see any effort on Arkansas’ part to do that,” Hutchinson said.
If efforts come forward to derail Trump’s nomination, Hutchinson predicted they won’t get far.
“I don’t think the ‘Anybody but Trump’ movement is going to go anywhere. He’s earned the votes, the delegates. They’ll be responsive to that and I see that we will coalesce around that. At the same time, the media is going to focus on the division – the people who are not happy… Our focus has got to be on what is our real message to contrast with Secretary Clinton and what would a Clinton administration look like in contrast to a Republican administration led by Donald Trump,” Hutchinson said in the TB&P interview.
“That to me is an important distinction: Who’s going to be our Secretary of Defense, who’s going to be the VP, who’s going to be the team that shapes the direction of the United States of America when it comes to the economy, when it comes to fighting terrorism, when it comes to the Supreme Court of the United States? That’s the contrast that needs to be made at the convention. I’ll hope to be a voice to make that contrast. So it’s really not all about Donald Trump – although he gets his share of attention – it’s also about the overall Republican team, Republican message and the direction we would take this country.”
The Arkansas governor expects to have a higher profile role at the convention than has been previously discussed.
“I’m in discussions with the convention organizers, the Trump campaign about what role I’ll play. I will be a surrogate speaker. I’m already speaking to the South Carolina delegation, some other delegations that are there, and they’re talking to me about a speaking opportunity on the floor. We’ll see how that develops,” he said.
A recent Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll shows that Trump is performing about ten percentage points behind where 2012 GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney was four years ago. Hutchinson thinks enthusiasm for Trump will grow headed into the fall.
“I think there’s a wariness about Donald Trump,” he said. “[There was] a lot of enthusiasm during the primary process and now that he’s our presumed nominee – what have we got here? That’s really the role of the convention and the burden on Mr. Trump.”
“I’ve told Mr. Trump personally that we disagree on some things. And I’m not going to ignore those disagreements. I want to shape the direction that he goes as a leader,” Hutchinson said. “Then we disagree on style as well, so you can’t hide from those areas of disagreement. I don’t want to be hypocritical and say we’re all just hunky-dory, but at the same time there’s no doubt in my mind – and I actually have a growing level of enthusiasm and hope that this convention will demonstrate the strength of the Republican team that will be led by Donald Trump, our presumed nominee, and whoever he names as Vice-president. And you’ve got to contrast it with the direction that a third term of the Obama administration and what it would mean for Arkansas – the regulatory environment, the economy, to our national defense posture – that’s what this convention is about.”
On Friday, Talk Business & Politics reported on Gov. Hutchinson’s response to the shootings in Dallas, Minnesota and Louisiana. Watch Hutchinson’s interview below.