40 million ways that his base may help keep him out of prison. Plus, trumps newest codefendant and maralago manager emerges from obscurity to the center of the storm, swarmed today by cameras at his First Court Appearance but not his last. Could his indictment end up helping his boss delay that trial until after the election . And as President Biden reverses a trump decision to move u. S. Space command to alabama, some politicians are blasting the politics behind the nogo. Well speak to one of them next. Im kaitlan collins, and this is the source. Tonight, trump is predicting that his next indictment is imminent. Any day now, is the way he worded it in a new post on social media. And of course as with other Target Letters and other indictments, he has been the one to tell us about them. Though hi to be growing and mounting exponentially, his political rtes are growing and growing as well. Its coming into clear vw today just how much he is dominating the nomination fight. A brandnew poll shows he has a 37point lead over his next closest republican rival. That is 37 points ahead of Governor Ron Desantis in the New York Times survey of likely republican primary voters, and more than 50 points ahead of the rest of the pack. So, this, of course, is going on, two impeachments, two criminal indictments, as we are seeing here, as this is continuing, weighing what Republican Voters here are going to decide. Im joined tonight by one of those republican candidates in the race, former arkansas governor, Asa Hutchinson. Thank you so much for being here tonight. The republican front runner said he believes hes going to be indicted any day now. Why arent these indictments hurting him with your partys voters . Well, they are. I think even though he has a grip right now on the campaign, on his candidacy, its a loosening grip. Theres a growing resurgent effort against the trump gop establishment. And that resurgent effort is growing. Its because he has misled his supporters. He told them that we im fighting for you, and yet hes really asking them to fight for him by paying his legal fees, in which hes used 60 million of Campaign Funds that he solicited from small donors across america to pay legal fees. So, these facts, as they come out, are going to slow his campaign down. The last place you see it will probably be in the poll numbers. But youre seeing that reurgency grow, and i expect it to continue to do so. What are you basing that off of, governor . Were not seeing that in the numbers at this point. Youre not seeing it when you go to iowa, New Hampshire, and you talk to voters. You hear some concerns. But overwhelmingly, based on these new numbers, he is still the dominant force in your party, despite those indictments. Well, whenever you see campaign rallies, theres an incredible turnout. He brings a real Entertainment Value to his campaign. But whenever you look at winning in 2024, theres a recognition that will be problematic with trump leading the ticket, not just in his campaign but down the way. The debate is very important. The debate is going to bring out many of these facts. I am doubtful that donald trump will show up on the debate because i expect to be there. I plan on being there. And these are facts that will be brought out that he will not b able to withstand that type of scrutiny. You and i both dont think he is going to be based on what we. The poll finds only 19 of republicans in your party only 1 see the former president as having committed any serious federal crimes despite the fact he is facing another potential indictment this week. What do you say to what do you say to those voters . What i say to them is that we cant win the donald trump leading the ticket. I tell them that these are very serious criminal charges, and theyre going to have to cast a vote as to whether hes going to be our nominee or not while these charges are pending. Can you imagine the circumstances that we have somebody leading our ticket that has been convicted of a felony or soon going to trial. This is unbelievable in american political history. I dont know that weve ever had these type i know we havent had these type of circumstances before. And so i know that you see the poll numbers, and i believe there is merit that theres going to be a quiet reduction in those poll numbers, as more of ths come out and as more of the candidates join in and there is more candidates joining my reurgency. And i think thats going to have an impact. So, you think the polls are just wrong . No, no, no. No. Im saying that the polls are reflecting where we are today. But im saying, as you go on, hes going to lose support. Those poll numbers are going to go down. You see it now in the donor base. You see it now in the nervousness of iowans and a recognition we need another alternative. But the last numbers that will move will be the poll numbers. So, you might see that dramatic change until later this fall. So, youve got to be patient on this. I should note, 52 of this republicans surveyed here said they are considering anyone not named donald trump. I will mention you talked about his legal fees. We have learned his Political Group spent more than 40 million on legal costs in just the first half of this year alone defending trump, his advisers, and others. Is the Republican Party turning into a Legal Defense fund at this point . Well, hes merged his campaign into his defense strategy. His campaign is all about simply trying to address the criminal cases that are against him, both in terms of his fundraising but also in terms of his rallies and shaping Public Opinion. If he loses the Public Opinion, if he loses the fundraising base, he has no defense strategy. And so its all merged in together. And that should be an alarming circumstance and fact for the gop and candidates that are going to running next year. Do you agree with will hurd, what he said friday night, that trump is running for president to stay out of prison . No. I think hes using his run for president to run his campaign. That is the ultimate what he is doing now. So, becoming president is a hopeful thing obviously for him. But the point is theyre merged together right now. And i phrase it in a different way. This is an alarming day for our party. The debate is important. Im going to raise these issues. I need everybodys support to be there. Asa2024. Com. A dollar helps me get on that debate stage, and well raise these issues that are important to the American Public. Governor, you said you believe his legal strategy is a political one. So, how do you not agree with that sentiment if hes running this race in a way to benefit and to help insulate him from his legal issues . Well, he is. He is running this race in a way that funds his campaign, that keeps a Public Opinion moving his direction is what hes attempting to do. Thats why hes going to continue to have rallies. But youre asking me the motive as to why he ran to begin with, which was last year. I cant judge that. So, i respect will. He can say what he wants to say on there. Ill phrase it in my way and that his trumps candidacy is dangerous for the American Public. We have to beat him at the ballot box. And people ask me, well, whats your chance of winning . You either have to elect him and coronate him or you get in there and fight. And im getting in there and fighting for the Republican Party that i believe in and the republican and the country that i want for our future and for our grandchildrens future, and it cant be led by donald trump. If you dont make the debate stage, will you stay in the 2024 race . I intend to make the debate stage. Weve had 10,000 new donors just in the last couple of weeks. So, we have momentum there. I have full expectation to be there. People expect me to be on that debate stage. And i intend to be there and i know that the 40,000 donors will come through for us. I know you want to be the and youve said you intend to be there. I think theres a real question about whether or not you will. When you look at this poll, they didnt poll just trump. They polled althe republicans. And you, governor, dont hit 1 in any of the demographics when it comes to hispanics, evangelical voters, women voters, those with a college degree, without a college degree. When you see those numbers, how do you why do you think youll be on that debate stage in just a month from now . Well, the rasmussen poll, the Credible National poll, had he at 4 , tied with a number of other contenders there. So, lets just look at a broad variety of polls there. But, again, im not as known as some others that are out there. I want people to hear my story. Being a federal prosecutor, head of the dea, worked on Border Security issues in the bush administration, congress, a governor for eight years. I want them to hear that record of experience. And as we get out there, i expect those numbers to change. Governor Asa Hutchinson, we will see if they do, if trumps numbers change as well with those pending indictments. Thanks so much for joining us tonight. For more on this, i want to bring in jamal simmons, former Communications Director for Vice President kamala harris, and alyssa farah griffin. With trumps support, alyssa, and youre looking at these polls, essentially the broader picture of this entire New York Times poll is just how large is lead is from all of the other republican candidates. If youre Asa Hutchinson or even a ron desantis, whats your reaction when you see that poll . This poll should send shockwaves through any member of the Republican Party who wants to see the party take a different direction from donald trump. This notion that ron desantis was supposed to be the heir apparent, i think he had a shot of that shortly after the midterms, but thats been squandered. I have to place blame on the top contenders in the field af donald trump, whether its ron desantis, nikki haley, tim scott, who i have a ton of respect for, they have not taken on donald trump. A former president whos got near 100 name i. D. In this country, this notion youre going to somehow beat him by defining yourself and rolling out a great policy proposal, that doesnt work in Donald Trumps america. There has to be an effort to talk about why hes not a credible leader, why he is ununfit for office. How many indictments do we have to have before theyre going to do that. I think as smart as folks may be, theyre Waiting For Magic to happen. Thomas massie, whos a Kentucky Republican who is endorsing desantis joked maybe they needed to get him indicted. It would help his numbers in the Republican Party. What we hear a lot of times is theres too many candidates and thats why trump is above it all because he splits the deskengs. Tr efb if its just the two of them, trump is so far ahead of him. The actual numbers are more impressive than the spread, right . 5417. Its a pretty big deal. Donald trueerly has the force when it comes to the republican primary. Too bad its on thdark side. Its clear donald trump the big character here. The question i think that governor hutchinson was getting at is there are a few pivot points when it comes to campaigns. The debates will be one of those pivot points. Right now nobody really knows anything about the rest of these candidates. Once they see them on stage, they see how they perform, i think the poll after that in iowa and New Hampshire and spinal cord, the states that matter first, lets take a poll after that. Is it policy that matters . What is the take away from the debate . The New York Times found they looked at all sides of the issue. If you believe that trans people should be able to identify with their gender. They do or dont. Whether you believe the change should be made to Social Security and medicare or they shouldnt. Whether you believe in corporations should promote left and woke ideology. On every side of the issue, Republican Voters still sided with trump over desantis, even on some of the issues he says hes stronger than trump on. Well, even if i think policy matters to a certain degree, but i think we live in such a 24hour news cycle Social Media Environment where personalities really drive things. And theres no bigger personality than donald trump. I agree with you. I dont think hes going to show up to the debate stage. I probably wouldnt tell him to. I would expect him to have Counter Programming that is going to juice him just as much as the people who are with him. I do think with desantis sinking, there is an opportunity for someone to emerge as the number two. I think its likely a nikki haley or a tim scott. But it will require them to get aggressive and define why donald trump cant be the leader. Part of it is the electability issue, he who joe biden wants to run against. Squ sq joe biden is champing at the bit to run against donald trump again. If its nikki haley, will hurd, tim scott, thats more challenging for the president. An argument tim scott makes, he can get tngs done and he can beat joe biden. When the New York Times asked publican likely voters that, they believe that trump would be able tbe desantis when it came to gettg things done 6722 . And on the ability to beat biden, they gave trump 58 and desantis 28 . These are the two arguments hes been making on the campaign trail. This poll is devastating for desantis in every possible way, including the meme who say theyre favorably inclined to his favorable number was 56 . Among those people, donald trump still beat him 4948. I mean, its a pretty tough road for him to get through. Not even just those issues. Its also about trump and his legal exposure. There were republicans, 22 , i believe, when they were looking at the trump desantis headtohead matchup that said even if they believe trump committed serious federal crimes that they would still pick him over desantis. Youre a republican. What does that say about where Republican Voters are. Donald trump has done a masterful job of convincing the American Public that this is a witch hunt. These are true allegations. Hes been aided by a lot of republicans in the party who if hes the nominee theyre going to bear the brunt of that when he, i think, will lose to joe biden. Kaitlan, hes so strong, he gets indicted and everyone else has campaign problems. Well see if hes right about that prediction there. Thank you both for being here tonight. We got our first look today at the second person accused of conspiring with trump to obstruct justice. What happened when the maralago Property Manager appeared in court today. His arraignment is coming up. Plus a growing Space Command saga, as President Biden has decided to keep the headquarters in colorado, rejecting a trumpera decision to move it to alabama. Critics, including democrats and republicans in the states delegation are not happy. So i called innovation refunds. Their team of independent tax x attorneys will work with your cpa to determine if your company is eligible. [whip sound] take the first step to see if your Small Business qualifies. The chase Ink Business Premier Card is made for people like sam, who make everyday products, designed smarter. 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