Tim Scott: ‘Far Left’s Most Feared Candidate’

Senator Tim Scott Announces Presidential Campaign

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Speaking at Charleston Southern University, Scott positioned himself as a traditional conservative with hope for the future and a clear alternative for Republican voters eager to move past former president Donald Trump. Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, has held the seat since 2013 and was reelected last year by more than 25 points.

Scott Joins Crowded Republican Field

Scott joins an increasingly crowded Republican field that includes Trump and fellow South Carolinian, Nikki Haley. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is also expected to make his run official this week. All three hopefuls lag behind Trump in the polls. A Harvard University poll conducted last week shows Scott polling at just 1 percent, Haley at 4, and DeSantis at 16. Trump, meanwhile, is polling at 58 percent.

Unique Combination of Optimism and Winning Conservative Policies

Scott argues that he offers voters a unique combination of optimism and winning conservative policies—an alternative to the pessimism and culture war politics that dominate much of the GOP primary field. Supporters are drawn to Scott’s ability to work with Trump without trading in the former president’s particular political style.

Scott’s Background and Approval

Scott’s background as a man who has lived the American dream is expected to stand out against his rivals. Elon Musk retweeted Scott’s Monday livestream and shared a campaign video last week, calling it “great.” Scott’s campaign replied with an invitation to Monday’s event, but the billionaire Twitter CEO was a no show.