The Democratic National Committee (DNC) received criticism for a sarcastic response to former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's decision to suspend his presidential campaign earlier this week.
The remark was delivered in a Tuesday statement by DNC's National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika.
"This news comes as a shock to those of us who could've sworn he had already dropped out," wrote Chitika.
The Washington Post's Aaron Blake noted Chitika's statement on Hutchinson was "rather gratuitous?"
Victo Shi, a former White House intern who describes himself as the "youngest Biden delegate," said the statement was "not a good look" in response to Blake.
"These people are losing to Trump, DeSantis, and Haley in every swing state and dedicated energy to this," wrote CNN's Scott Jennings.
Former Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger similarly said Chitika's statement was "dumb and stupid."
Fellow former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh said the DNC's statement should have thanked Hutchinson for running against former President Donald Trump this election cycle.
"Hey DNC, this is a s---y thing to say," he wrote. "Asa Hutchinson should be thanked by you all for running AGAINST Trump."
"You do want all of us NeverTrumpers to vote for Biden, don't you?" Walsh added. "Come on DNC, be better than this."
“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 [former President Donald] Trump?" asked editor-at-large of The Bulwark Bill Kristol. "Or is Biden so far ahead that you don’t need every potential crossover vote?”
Political scholar Norman Ornstein similarly said the DNC should have praised Hutchinson for opposing the former President.
“Stupid," Ornstein wrote. "The DNC should have praised Asa for his forthright condemnation of Trump and the insurrection, and noted that his integrity meant he had no chance of winning over Republican primary voters."
Hutchinson suspended his presidential campaign on Tuesday after taking sixth place in the Iowa caucus with 191 out of roughly 110,000 votes cast in the state.
“I am suspending my campaign for President and driving back to Arkansas,” the 74-year-old said in a statement, per Fox News. “My message of being a principled Republican with experience and telling the truth about the current front runner did not sell in Iowa.”
“I stand by the campaign I ran,” Hutchinson continued. “I answered every question, sounded the warning to the GOP about the risks in 2024 and presented hope for our country’s future.”
Trump handily walked away nearly 30 points ahead of fellow GOP challengers with 51% of the total votes cast in the Iowa caucus. Fellow GOP candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came in second in Iowa's caucus with just over 21%, followed by Haley with just over 19%, per the Associated Press.
