Tim Scott relies on his South Carolina popularity while aiming for national recognition once again.
Sen. Tim Scott: A Strong Challenger to Trump’s 2024 Campaign
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is emerging as a significant challenger to former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, particularly in his home state of South Carolina.
While South Carolina Republicans acknowledge Trump’s strong base of support in the state, they also recognize that voters are intrigued by Scott as a viable alternative.
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County and district GOP chairmen and women across South Carolina emphasize that Trump remains popular. However, with the primary still seven months away, they acknowledge that voters are open to considering other candidates, with Scott being a standout.
“President Trump definitely has a very strong and large base of support going into our primary here in South Carolina,” said Fourth District Republican Chairman Nate Leuppe. “It is strong and unwavering.”
However, Leuppe also noted that there is a smaller percentage of “America First” voters who support Trump but are not fully committed to him. These voters are likely to wait and see how the primary race unfolds in the coming months.
Dorchester County GOP Chairman Steven Wright affirmed that Trump enjoys solid support in South Carolina and across the country. Nevertheless, he emphasized that South Carolinians take their role as a first-in-the-South primary state seriously and believe that candidates must earn their votes.
South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Drew McKissick, who is also co-chairman of the Republican National Committee, predicted that the state’s primary would be highly competitive, especially with a later primary date scheduled for Feb. 24.
“The candidates are going to want to come here, campaign here, and win here because it will give them a bounce going into Super Tuesday, where you know, it’s difficult for them to get all around the country,” McKissick explained.
Tensions in the South Carolina race are further heightened by the presence of two candidates who call the state home: Scott and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, according to McKissick.
Several leaders have observed that voters are particularly interested in Scott, while not seeing the same level of support for Haley. Spartanburg County GOP Chairman Curtis Smith mentioned that voters appreciate Haley but feel she left important jobs unfinished, referring to her governorship and role as ambassador to the U.N. during the Trump administration.
Smith claimed that Scott’s appeal extends beyond the Republican Party. He shared that he met minority voters at a recent event with Scott who had never voted Republican before but were inspired by Scott’s message and declared their support for him.
Smith also highlighted Scott’s work on opportunity zones, which were part of an initiative he authored and passed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This, along with Scott’s personal story of rising from humble beginnings, has garnered significant support for him.
Seventh Congressional District GOP Chairman Jerry Rovner stated, “I think a lot of Democrats fear him because he’s black, he’s intelligent, he’s conservative, and they don’t know what to do.”
Regarding policy, Rovner noted that Scott shares a similar vision with Trump and most Republican voters but approaches it differently by refraining from personal attacks on opponents.
Multiple leaders predict a serious challenge from Scott, especially if he gains traction in Iowa and New Hampshire.
“Sen. Scott is building an operation across our state. People know him. People like him. And he has received a great number of endorsements from senators, from local elected officials,” said Wright about Scott’s campaign.
Notably, Scott has garnered over 140 endorsements from current and former elected officials in South Carolina since announcing his bid for the presidency.
Leaders also pointed out that Scott’s endorsements include county-level officials, particularly in Dorchester County.
Leuppe further explained that while not everyone may support Scott for the Republican nomination, they all support him in other ways. Some believe he would make an excellent vice president. “Tim Scott is an incredible person. He’s an incredible senator. And I think he has an incredible future,” he said.
Interestingly, Trump has refrained from speaking negatively about Scott, even referring to him as a ”nice guy” after criticizing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) at a recent rally.
If Trump were to change his strategy and attack Scott, it could be a risky move, given the senator’s high approval ratings.
In a 2022 Winthrop University poll, Scott had an approval rating of nearly 90% among South Carolina Republicans. He also enjoyed the approval of two-thirds of the general public in the state.
In a recent HarrisX-Harris poll, Scott received a net favorability rating of 10, surpassing most other figures who received net negative results. Only six out of the 25 individuals rated were viewed more favorably than Scott, including fellow presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
While the race has been portrayed as a competition between front-runner Trump and second-place contender DeSantis, South Carolina leaders suggest that the dynamic in the state may be different. They note that DeSantis has support but emphasize the significant attention received by Ramaswamy and Scott.
One veteran Republican operative in South Carolina reiterated Trump’s dominance in the state but mentioned that religious voters are considering Scott specifically. The senator has made faith a central theme of his campaign.
As reports of internal reshuffling and donor concerns emerge within the DeSantis campaign, Scott’s campaign aims to capitalize on the moment.
Sources involved in Scott’s campaign believe that as long as they continue their current strategy, it will become evident to voters that Scott is the right messenger with the best message. They also emphasize that Scott has the necessary resources to go the distance, ending the second quarter of 2023 with the second-highest cash on hand, behind only Trump.
These operatives are confident that voters appreciate Scott’s positive approach and optimistic message.
Republican strategists also see an opportunity for Scott in the 2024 primary.
“It seems like DeSantis really positioned himself as the alternative to Trump, whereas Tim Scott entered the race with his own vision for the country,” said Susan Del Percio. “Being an alternative to Trump only works if Trump is not in the race.”
However, Del Percio believes that Scott needs to be proactive and assertive to fully capitalize on this opportunity.
Republican strategist John Feehery highlighted that Scott’s positive message sets him apart from the competition in a favorable way. He stated, “I don’t think either Trump or DeSantis have that same kind of powerfully positive message.”
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