US Senator Tim Scott launches campaign for president
Scott focuses his personal story as he seeks a 2024 Republican nomination in a crowded field, including Donald Trump.
U.S. Senator Tim Scott has officially launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, joining a growing list of candidates seeking the White House next year.
Scott focused on his personal story in a speech announcing his candidacy on Monday, portraying his rise from humble beginnings to the U.S. Senate — where he is currently the only black Republican — as proof that America is “the land of opportunity , and not a land of oppression”.
Scott, 57, told the story of his grandfather who was born in 1921 and had to leave school early to pick cotton, but lived to see the senator elected to Congress.
“That’s the evolution of the country we live in: my family went from cotton to congress in a lifetime,” he said from his home state of South Carolina.
With his announcement, Scott joins former President Donald Trump, ex-US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, among others, in the race for the Republican nomination. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also expected to launch a presidential campaign soon.
Several polls have shown Trump to be the front-runner in the Republican field with DeSantis a clear, if distant, second. The Iowa caucuses begin next year.
The odds for Scott and other candidates seem slim, but with Trump facing legal troubles — including criminal charges in New York — and the election months away, 2024 hopefuls will try to improve their standing.
On the policy side, Scott took aim at Democratic President Joe Biden, who is running for re-election, and criticized his approach to immigration, the student loan forgiveness plan and the management of US competition with China.
Scott also addressed social issues prioritized by conservatives. He expressed support for law enforcement, pledged to protect religious freedom from what he called an “attack” by the far left, and vowed to reform the education system.
“I will lead a revolution for excellence in our schools — less CRT and more ABCs,” he said, referring to critical race theory, an education perspective that looks at American history through the lens of racism.
Conservatives strongly oppose discussions of race in the education system, but proponents of such curricula argue that they aim to counter institutional racism and teach an accurate version of history.
Scott repeatedly rejected on Monday that the US is a racist country. “Our party and our nation are at a moment to choose between victimization or victory,” he said.
Scott did not name any of his Republican rivals in his speech, but he suggested he would be best placed to address voters outside the party.
“We need a president who not only convinces our friends and our base,” he said. “We have to do that with common sense, conservative principles, but we have to have compassion for people … who disagree with us.”
Scott will try to capitalize on the early primaries in his South Carolina state, where he may enjoy more popularity and name recognition than other candidates — a potential advantage he shares with Haley, who previously served as governor there.
Trump, who is known for scolding election rivals, appeared to welcome Scott’s candidacy on Monday, noting that the race is getting busier and lashing out at DeSantis, referring to the Florida governor as “DeSanctimonious.”
“Good luck to Senator Tim Scott as he enters the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” the former president wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“It fills up quickly with a lot of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable. I’ve done Opportunity Zones with Tim, a big deal that’s been very successful. Good luck Tim!”