Republican Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has made a surprise announcement that he will end his bid for the 2024 presidential race after months of struggling to boost his standing in the Republican primary race.
“I love America more today than I did on May 22. But when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Mr. Scott told the news outlet.
“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.’
“And so I’m going to respect the voters. And I’m going to hold on and keep working really hard and look forward to another opportunity.”
Mr. Scott, the only black Republican in the U.S. Senate, also said that he would refrain from endorsing any of his remaining Republican rivals. He formally announced his bid for president on May 22.
“The voters are really smart,” the senator said. “The best way for me to be helpful is to not weigh in on who they should endorse.”
The news was so abrupt that one campaign worker, who wasn’t authorized to discuss the internal deliberations publicly, told The Associated Press anonymously that the campaign staff found out that Mr. Scott was dropping out by watching the show.
“Until the experts recognize Tim is the only candidate that can capture the nomination and defeat President Joe Biden, there will be a very expensive and loud next few months—full of sound and fury and signifying nothing,” the memo read.
“So, we are doing what would be obvious in the business world but will mystify politicos—we aren’t going to waste our money when the electorate isn’t focused or ready for a Trump alternative.
“This electorate is locked up, and money spent on mass media isn’t going to change minds until we get a lot closer to voting.”
The senator from South Carolina has put less emphasis on foreign affairs and more on a positive message rooted in his Christian faith and a demand for more personal responsibility in the United States during the course of his campaign.
In comments to the Hudson Institute think tank in Washington last month, he condemned the attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, saying that it filled Americans “with heartbreak, and frankly, righteous anger.” But he also blamed the Biden administration for weak foreign policy that he said contributed to the carnage.
