Thune endorses Scott’s 2024 bid at campaign launch.

Thune to Endorse Scott’s 2024 Presidential Bid

Exciting news for Senator Tim Scott’s presidential campaign! Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) will officially endorse Scott’s bid for the White House when he launches his campaign on Monday. Thune, the Senate’s No. 2 Republican, will be in attendance at Scott’s rally in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the senator will kick off his campaign. Thune will deliver the opening prayer and may make other remarks at the event, solidifying his endorsement of Scott.

Scott’s Presidential Exploratory Committee

Scott launched his presidential exploratory committee in April and filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission for his White House bid on Friday. He enters a field dominated by former President Donald Trump, but he is far from the only member of the Senate with presidential ambitions. Many on both sides of the aisle opted not to run this cycle as Trump and President Joe Biden maintain steady leads with their respective primary electorates.

Thune’s Relationship with Trump

Thune, an ally of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), has soured on Trump in recent years. Their relationship deteriorated significantly as Trump refused to concede his 2020 election loss, and was worsened further by the former president’s role in the 2022 midterms. While he avoids being a vocal Trump critic, Thune has said he believes the GOP should not choose the former president as their 2024 nominee. Thune admitted to CNN in March that he was pushing Scott to enter the presidential primary, saying, “I’m excited about it. I’ve been encouraging him.”

Scott’s Cash-On-Hand Advantage

Despite the crowded field, Scott has a significant cash-on-hand advantage, with $22 million in the bank. He has also already launched a $6 million TV advertising blitz that will run statewide in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two GOP nominating contests, through the party’s first presidential debate in August. It’s an impressive show of force in a contest where money matters as much as polling.

Declared Candidates

Other declared candidates include former Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R-AR), biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and conservative talk radio host Larry Elder. However, Scott and Trump will be the only candidates in the race with any Senate endorsements. Scott also has the backing of Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Thune’s home-state colleague. Trump, meanwhile, has 11 endorsements from Senate Republicans.

It’s an exciting time for the Republican Party as the 2024 presidential race heats up. Stay tuned for more updates!