Former President Donald Trump has expressed his support for South Carolina Senator Tim Scott as he enters the 2024 presidential race.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wished Scott good luck and praised him as a big step up from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is also expected to enter the race.
Trump also highlighted his successful collaboration with Scott on the Opportunity Zones initiative, which gave tax incentives for investment in underserved and impoverished communities. The initiative was included in the 2017 tax cuts and spurred private investments of over $75 billion in its first two years.
According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump currently enjoys 56.3% support among national Republican voters, compared to 19.4% for DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Scott has just 1.8% support, behind former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
In his campaign announcement, Scott touted his role as a lead author of the Republican tax reform that slashed taxes for families, brought jobs and investment back from overseas, and created Opportunity Zones to inject private dollars into communities that have been left behind.
He criticized the Biden administration for taxing, borrowing, and spending trillions of dollars in an attempt to replace a hand up with handouts, which he claims has resulted in crushing inflation that has devastated families.
Trumps support for Scott comes as he faces a potential challenge from DeSantis, who is expected to enter the race in the coming days. However, Trump has criticized DeSantis as totally unelectable and believes that Scott is a better candidate. Trumps endorsement could give Scott a boost in the polls and help him gain more support among Republican voters.
As a lead author of the Republican tax reform and the Opportunity Zones initiative, Scott has a track record of promoting economic growth and investment in underserved communities. His conservative values and policies could resonate with Republican voters who are looking for a candidate who can deliver on their promises and make a positive impact on their lives.
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