U.S. Sen. Tim Scott Exits 2024 Presidential Race: Republican Field Narrows as Campaign is Suspended
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Tim Scott of South Carolina announced his withdrawal from the Republican presidential campaign in 2024 on Sunday night, startling a TV interviewer as well as the presidential campaign team. “I will not be returning to Iowa as a presidential candidate.” “I am suspending my campaign,” Scott stated during an appearance on Fox News with former Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy. “These extraordinary individuals who make up the voters have been clear about what they’re telling me: not now,” he continued. Gowdy, a former colleague of Scott’s in the House of Representatives, seemed to perform a double-take as he made his announcement. NBC News spoke with many Scott campaign staffers who said they had no idea he was calling it quits until they saw him say it on TV.
🚨Breaking News: Tim Scott has officially ended his campaign for President in 2024. pic.twitter.com/oM5MHBVfaY
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) November 13, 2023
Scott’s team even sent out a fundraising email shortly before he announced his withdrawal from the contest. “There is ONE LAST CHANCE this weekend to donate and help Tim reach his campaign goal.” “Would you be able to help Tim win?” the campaign asked. His decision comes amid attempts to unite the Republican Party’s opposition to Trump, who has large leads in primary polls, particularly in Iowa, where the first caucuses are held. Scott had 7% support in the October NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll, placing him fourth. Scott’s withdrawal comes just days after the third Republican presidential debate in Miami, where he skipped a weekend campaign tour in Iowa, claiming the flu.
Tonight, I suspended my campaign for president.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) November 13, 2023
Traveling this country and meeting all of you has been one of the most fantastic experiences of my entire life.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
God Bless the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/yniJWQMW1N
Republican Presidential Contender Tim Scott Has Announced His Withdrawal From The 2024 race
It is almost two months before Iowa’s leadoff caucuses begin, and Republican presidential contender Tim Scott announced his withdrawal from the 2024 race on Sunday afternoon. “I love America even more now than I did on May 22.” But I won’t be returning to Iowa as a presidential candidate. “I am suspending my campaign,” he announced. As a result of Sunday night’s news, many of Scott’s aides and contributors were stunned. Sources close to Scott’s campaign said they weren’t notified in advance, even though it was becoming clear Scott had a tough road to travel in the GOP primary. A source close to his campaign believes that exiting the race now may allow him to return to the Senate without an embarrassing Iowa finish. He keeps the door open for a future political candidature — and avoids putting himself in the crosshairs of Donald Trump, should the former president become the candidate. “Tim ran a positive, upbeat message — but that’s not where the Republican base is right now,” said a GOP official who backed Scott. Scott told Fox News’ Trey Gowdy that he will not support another Republican candidate, believing that “the best way for me to be helpful” is to refrain from making an endorsement in the primary. Scott reiterated his position on the campaign trail that he has no interest in embracing a vice presidential candidature.
“I ran for president to be president,” he said. “I believe I was summoned to run.” I wasn’t called to win, but I was called to run. Being vice president was never on my to-do list for this campaign, and it certainly isn’t on it now.” Andy Sabin, a prominent Scott contributor and metal entrepreneur, told CNN that he is “dissatisfied but not surprised” that the senator has decided to stand out, and that he will now support former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the GOP primary. Scott launched his campaign in May, intending to deliver a positive message to a Republican field dominated by individuals like Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who painted America as a declining nation. He used his personal story to refute Democratic ideas on everything from criminal justice to education to economic policy. “During campaign appearances, he frequently stated that “the truth of my life disrupts their lies.”. After converting his Senate campaign account into a presidential fund, the South Carolina senator entered the contest with a significant monetary edge. This gave him a $21 million head start on fundraising & permitted him to flood the Iowa and New Hampshire airways with early advertising. Scott’s TV commercials became so common in the initial states that by the summer, audience members at campaign rallies could parrot lines from his advertising back to him.
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