South Carolina Republicans have mixed thoughts on Senator Tim Scott tying himself to Trump and being considered for VP: for some ‘love’ for others ‘pathetic’

South Carolina Republicans showed their love for Donald Trump on Saturday, giving him a resounding victory in the state’s Republican presidential primary. Voters in the first-in-the-South primary state chose Trump over one of their own, former Gov. Nikki Haley, but they also had mixed opinions about putting another South Carolinian on the presidential ticket.

Sen. Tim Scott endorsed Trump after shelving his own bid for the White House last year and campaigned fiercely for the former president across the state. On Tuesday, Trump confirmed at a town hall that his shortlist for vice presidents includes Scott.

“He’s been such a great advocate. “I have to say this in a very positive way, Tim Scott, he has been much better to me than he has been to himself,” Trump said.

The South Carolina voters DailyMail.com spoke to agreed that Scott has tied himself to Trump for better or worse, but that didn’t mean Trump supporters were as enthusiastic about Scott being on the ticket. And for those who supported Haley, it’s all downhill to discuss Scott from there.

“I want him to pick a strong vice president and if that’s who that is, I’m happy to support Tim Scott,” 54-year-old Trump voter Thomas Faulds said thoughtfully.

Another Trump voter, Kay Spencer, 62, wasn’t sure about Scott as vice president, but she “likes him” and would have voted for him if he had stayed in the presidential race.

Scott gestures before Trump spoke at a rally on the eve of the South Carolina primary on February 23

Scott sat next to Trump at a Fox News Channel town hall in Greenville, SC on February 20. During the town hall, Trump confirmed that Scott was on his VP shortlist along with five others

Helen Moore, 65, who lives in Scott’s hometown of North Charleston and who voted for Trump in the primaries, was open to the idea of ​​having Scott as vice president.

“I don’t really have a problem with it,” she said. ‘I think Trump admires him. I know Tim Scott personally and have worked with him. I knew Tim Scott when he first ran for City Council and he used to come into the zoning department to pick up maps from me and stuff.”

“Tim is probably as good as anyone,” said Alan Douglas, 69. He liked that the senator is a “solid Christian conservative,” but he also suggested that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is a smart choice would be.

Scott was on Trump’s shortlist, along with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Congressman Byron Donalds, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Noem.

In Saturday’s CPAC straw poll, Noem and Ramaswamy tied for first place for who attendees wanted to be Trump’s running mate. Scott finished in third place with 8 percent.

Scott speaks at a Trump campaign rally in Concord, New Hampshire on January 19

While Trump and Scott played up their bromance ahead of the primaries, some voters weren’t buying.

“I think Tim Scott, like all the other candidates who have dropped out, is saying things and positioning himself as his vice president, in order to have a prominent position in his Cabinet,” said 61-year-old Zenda Leaks. who thought everything Scott did was just to “advance his career.”

For those who loved Haley, there was a deep-seated dislike for the way Scott turned on his fellow South Carolina native.

“I’m really shocked that he didn’t support Nikki Haley because she’s the one who appointed him,” said veteran Ronald Smith, 64. “I mean, I’m really shocked at how that relationship has gone sour.”

Haley appointed Scott to fill the Senate seat while she served as governor in 2013 after Sen. Jim DeMint retired.

Scott spoke at the South Carolina Statehouse in 2012 after being introduced by then-Governor Nikki Haley to fill the Senate seat of retiring Senator Jim DeMint

Married couple Chad, 52, and Cynthia Plasters, 54, of North Charleston, both voted for Haley in Saturday’s primary. Cynthia did this as a Democrat trying to rob Trump of the Republican nomination, but Chad said he is an independent who is ideologically aligned with the former South Carolina governor.

“Sad,” Chad replied with a laugh when asked about Scott’s support of Trump. “Especially because the reason he has a job is because of Nikki.”

“He’s just a smile and marbles guy now,” Cynthia added. ‘I can not stand it. He has no opinion. He has wiped away all his own opinions.”

Barbara Bates of Goose Creek said she knew Scott personally, from his time on the Charleston County Council. She had a harsher opinion when asked if Scott supported Trump.

“The way he came from New Hampshire, he might as well have sat down and licked his feet,” she said.

Bates referenced Trump’s victory speech in New Hampshire, in which Trump suggested that Scott should “really hate” Haley. Scott tried to salvage the particularly awkward primetime moment by shouting into the microphone, “I just love you!”

‘You know what’s really sad? Trump is going to throw him under the bus so quickly,” said Barbara’s husband Bill Bates. ‘It is pathetic.’

“It’s crazy how he freaks out,” Nancy Hade, 65, of Goose Creek said of Scott.

But Trump supporters celebrating at his victory party in South Carolina on Saturday night did not hold on to Scott’s short-lived presidential bid in which he challenged Trump for the nomination against him. Scott received one of the most rancorous cheers when Trump praised him effusively for his work on the trail before Scott had his moment.

“Is South Carolina Trump Country?” Scott shouted from the stage.

The crowd went wild.