Senator Tim Scott, Donald Trump’s one-time rival in the 2024 presidential race, will announce on Friday that he is endorsing the former president for the Republican nomination.
Scott (R-SC), who dropped out of the race on Nov. 12 and vowed at the time he would not endorse another candidate, is expected to make a formal endorsement at a Trump campaign rally in New Hampshire, according to multiple reports.
Scott’s decision to endorse Trump ahead of New Hampshire’s Jan. 23 primary is a blow to Scott’s fellow South Carolina native, former Palmetto State Gov. Nikki Haley — who appointed Scott in December 2012 to the Senate seat he has won twice. own
Haley, 51, is Trump’s closest challenger in New Hampshire, and the consensus among political observers is that she must win the Granite State to deny the 45th president a run for the Republican nomination in Milwaukee later this year.
Senator Tim Scott, Donald Trump’s one-time rival in the 2024 presidential race, will announce on Friday that he is endorsing the former president for the Republican nomination. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
In supporting Trump, Scott also joined his Senate counterpart Lindsey Graham and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster in abandoning Haley in favor of the former president.
Scott, 58, entered the race in May of last year, expressing an optimistic message about his life story that countered liberal claims of America’s oppression of blacks and other minorities.
However, despite his impressive fundraising numbers, Scott failed to make inroads among Republican voters.
An Iowa benchmark poll released in late October, two weeks before his exit, showed him with just 7% support in the Hawkeye State.
Scott (R-SC), who dropped out of the race on Nov. 12, vowed at the time that he would not endorse another candidate. AFP via Getty Images
Scott announced he was suspending his campaign during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America,” hosted by his friend from South Carolina, former Rep. Trey Gowdy.
“I think the voters, who are the most extraordinary people on the planet, have been absolutely clear,” he said at the time. “They told me, ‘Not now, Tim.’”
In the same interview, Scott said he would withhold his support for now, telling Gowdy “the best way for me to help is to not care.”
Scott’s decision to endorse Trump was a blow to Scott’s friend from South Carolina, former Palmetto State Governor Nikki Haley. AFP via Getty Images Scott is at least the fifth 2024 Republican presidential candidate to endorse Trump, according to reports. MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The senator also appeared to rule out being a running mate, saying: “Being vice president was never on my to-do list for this campaign, and it certainly isn’t now.”
Scott is at least the fifth 2024 Republican presidential candidate to endorse Trump, along with former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, conservative radio host Larry Elder, businessman Perry Johnson and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Since Scott dropped out of the race, the Trump campaign has launched a concerted effort to win his support.
The endorsement comes four days after Trump, 77, dominated the Iowa Republican caucus, beating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by nearly 30 percentage points, with Haley in third place.
Additional reporting by Samuel Chamberlain
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
