The presidential campaign of Senator Tim Scott has been brought to an abrupt halt, largely due to a significant drop in fundraising and stagnant polling figures in a highly competitive Republican field.
Senator Scott, 58, reported campaign expenditures of $12.4 million between July and September, while only managing to raise $4.6 million during the same period, as per the Federal Election Commission records. Concurrently, Scott, a Republican from South Carolina, was polling at a national average of 2.5%, according to data from RealClearPolitics. Even in his home state, his average polling figure was a mere 7.8%.
The senator's announcement on Sunday evening that he would be suspending his campaign came as a surprise to his staff and supporters. Just days before, former Senator Cory Gardner, who heads the pro-Scott super PAC Trust in the Mission (TIM PAC), had expressed confidence in Scott's commitment to the upcoming Iowa caucuses on January 15.
Gardner had stated, "Iowa is his focus. Then it will be New Hampshire, then it will be South Carolina. And by the time we get to November, it'll be great." This statement was made following the third GOP debate in Miami, where Scott barely made it to the stage due to his low polling numbers.
However, Scott's campaign had to cancel a planned trip to Iowa on Friday, citing flu as the reason. On Sunday, Scott told Fox News, "when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate." He added, "I am suspending my campaign. I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear they're telling me, 'Not now, Tim.'"
Just before Scott's announcement on Fox News, his campaign sent out a fundraising email with the headline: "One last chance." This was a clear indication of the financial struggles his campaign was facing. Last month, TIM PAC announced it was canceling a planned ad buy, stating it didn't want to "waste our money when the electorate isn't focused or ready for a Trump alternative."
To qualify for the next debate, scheduled for December 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Scott needed to achieve at least 6% in certified polls and attract at least 80,000 unique donors, with a minimum of 200 unique donors in each of 20 states or territories.
While Scott has not endorsed another candidate in the GOP primary, his exit from the race opens up a segment of voters that other contenders, who are trailing former President Donald Trump in the polls, desperately need.
GOP strategist John Feehery told The Post, "I dont think Scotts voters were thinking about voting for Trump, but I think they were thinking about [Florida Gov. Ron] DeSantis or [former South Carolina Gov. Nikki] Haley." He speculated that DeSantis would benefit from Scott's absence in Iowa, while Haley would get a boost in the first-in-the-South primary.
As DeSantis and Haley vie for the second spot, 77-year-old Trump continues to lead in both national and early state polling. Republican strategist Ron Bonjean commented, "It really reminds everyone that Donald Trump is 30 points ahead and unless these candidates catch up, theyre going to run out of money and support."
Throughout his campaign, Scott attempted to position himself as a "happy warrior." However, Bonjean suggested that this messaging was out of sync with the campaign's tone and the GOP electorate's needs. "His message just wasnt attractive to a wide variety of voters," Bonjean added.
Scott is the sixth notable Republican candidate to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, following former Vice President Mike Pence, radio host Larry Elder, former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, businessman Perry Johnson, and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.
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