Hutchinson’s launch highlights Arkansas city of Bentonville

By ANDREW DeMILLO
Associated Press

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Asa Hutchinson is launching his bid for president in the northwest Arkansas city where he was born and got his start in politics. But the city of Bentonville is vastly different from the sleepy small town that Hutchinson remembers. Hutchinson is formally announcing his bid in the backyard of Walmart, which has fueled Bentonville’s growth over the years. The downtown is now crowded with high-end restaurants and art galleries, and tourists flock to an art museum created by Walmart heir Alice Walton. The city gives Hutchinson a chance to introduce himself to voters but also highlights his portrayal of himself as a business-friendly conservative.