South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Scott, who is the Senate's only Black Republican, kicked off his campaign at Southern University in his hometown of North Charleston. He hopes to offer a contrast to former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who have dominated the early Republican primary field with their combative political style. Scott aims to energize more than just the party's base and has frequently criticized Democrats for raising false social and political grievances.
Scott's campaign has a substantial financial advantage, with $22 million US left in his campaign account at the end of his 2022 campaign that he can transfer to his presidential coffers. His team believes that this will enable him to remain on the air with continuous TV ads in early voting states until the first round of votes next year. Scott won re-election in firmly Republican South Carolina by more than 20 points less than six months ago, and his advisers believe this will make him a serious contender for an early primary victory that could give him momentum heading deeper into the primary race.
Scott hopes to stand out from the crowded field by focusing on his trademark optimistic rhetoric and his Christian faith, which is an integral part of his political and personal story. He often quotes Scripture at his campaign events and even bestowed the name "Faith in America" on his pre-launch listening tour. Scott said that America's promise means "you and I can go as high as our character, our grit, and our talent will take us."
However, Scott is not the only South Carolina option, as the state's former governor, Nikki Haley, who also once served as Trump's former United Nations ambassador, formally entered the primary race months ago. Like others in the Republican race, Scott's early task will be finding a way to stand out in a field led by Trump and DeSantis, the latter of whom could announce his own bid as early as this week.
The Democratic National Committee dismissed the notion that Scott offers much of an alternative to Trump's policies, calling him "a fierce advocate of the MAGA agenda" in a statement released by DNC chair Jamie Harrison.