In a surprising turn of events, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) announced the suspension of his 2024 presidential campaign on Sunday. The South Carolina senator made this announcement during an appearance on former Rep. Trey Gowdy’s (R-SC) Fox News show, attributing his decision to failure to gain traction with Republican voters and find a solid footing in a race led by former President Donald Trump.
“When I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” he declared during the show.
“I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me, ‘not now, Tim,’” he explained further, citing Romans 8:28 to emphasize his faith-driven decision. The Bible passage states that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”
Unlike some other former candidates who endorsed fellow Republicans upon exiting the race, Scott, who launched his presidential campaign on May 22, chose not to endorse any of the remaining candidates, opting instead to encourage voters to carefully examine each candidate’s qualifications and track record. “The best way for me to be helpful is to not weigh in on who they should endorse,” he stated.
He also turned down the idea of serving as a running mate to whoever ends up securing the party’s ticket for the presidential election. “Being vice president has never been on my to-do list,” he stated.
This development follows a series of dropouts from the GOP race, including Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, former Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), businessman Perry Johnson, Larry Elder, and most recently, former Vice President Mike Pence.
As reported by an Associated Press reporter, the departure caught many of his campaign staff off guard.
“A senior staffer tells me on the condition of anonymity that this is incredibly frustrating for staffers,” said Meg Kinnard. “A large portion of the SC team had been sent to Iowa in the last month – and now they have to find a way to get them back tomorrow. The staffer added they had been operating as though he still planned to win, and were blindsided by Tim Scott’s announcement on Fox News.”
Update: A senior staffer tells me on the condition of anonymity that this is incredibly frustrating for staffers. A large portion of the SC team had been sent to Iowa in the last month – and now they have to find a way to get them back tomorrow. The staffer added they had been…
— Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) November 13, 2023
This, however, might not be the last of the senator’s bid on the national stage, as he suggested that he might run for president again down the road.
