South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announced on Sunday the suspension of his 2024 presidential campaign during an episode of Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America” with Trey Gowdy.
“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,’” Scott told Fox News.
The senator emphasized his decision to not endorse any other candidate in the Republican race, stating, “The best way for me to be helpful is to not weigh in.”
Scott also dismissed the idea of serving as the vice-presidential nominee on the Republican Party’s 2024 national ticket, asserting, “Being vice president has never been on my to-do list.”
The unexpected announcement took some of Scott’s staff by surprise, as a handful of campaign aides confirmed to Fox News that they were not given a heads-up on Scott’s decision ahead of his live appearance.
Scott, a rising star in the GOP and the only Black Republican in the Senate, launched his presidential campaign in May at an event in North Charleston, South Carolina, where he highlighted his optimistic and positive message anchored in conservatism.
However, Scott’s positive message struggled to gain traction in a GOP presidential nomination race dominated by former President Donald Trump, who is spotlighting his grievances during his third consecutive run for the White House.
Scott faced challenges in the primary debates, with his early momentum taking a hit in August. Despite a more aggressive stance in the second debate, he found himself trailing behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in the polls, though all were far behind Trump.
Stuck in the low to mid single digits, Scott’s campaign announced it was going “all in” on Iowa, the first contest in the Republican schedule, at the expense of New Hampshire.
Despite launching his campaign with a substantial war chest, Scott’s fundraising in the July to September third quarter was lackluster, with concerns raised about campaign cash becoming an issue going forward.
Reacting to Scott’s decision, DeSantis praised him as a “strong conservative,” while Haley expressed her admiration, stating that “the Republican primary was made better by his participation in it.”
Scott, who is not up for re-election until 2028, shared that he plans to continue serving as a senator. His departure from the 2024 race comes less than a week after revealing he has a girlfriend named Mindy Noce, marking a personal revelation amid his political journey.
