Tim Scott Calls It Quits

(UnitedVoice.com) – Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) has built a reputation as someone who’s willing to cross party lines to try to get a job done for the American people. He demonstrated that when he worked with Democrats on police reform. Earlier this year, he announced his bid for the presidency, but that’s over now.

On November 12, Scott appeared on Trey Gowdy’s Fox News program. It was there that he made the big announcement: he was suspending his campaign for president.

The senator said he believed the Republican voters were telling him that now isn’t his time to run for president. He told Gowdy he doesn’t think they are saying, “‘No.’ But [he does] think they’re saying, ‘Not now.’”

Scott said he won’t be endorsing any other candidates for the White House, because he doesn’t think it would be helpful if he weighed in on the race. He also has no desire to be someone else’s number two, saying, “Being vice president has never been on my to-do list.”

SEN. SCOTT DROPS OUT OF WH RACE: "[The voters] are telling me, 'Not now, Tim.'" pic.twitter.com/3zoJ7vIcRw

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 13, 2023

According to reports, Scott’s decision to suspend his campaign on Gowdy’s show shocked his campaign staff. They’d sent out an email just 13 minutes before his announcement asking for donations, saying he had a “positive vision to lead our country forward.” The email told voters it was their “ONE LAST CHANCE” to help him meet his fundraising goal.

After the interview on Fox News, Scott had an all-staff call and explained why he was quitting the race, repeating what he’d said on television. Some staffers spoke to The Associated Press and expressed irritation. They’d recently been working around the clock to shift their focus to New Hampshire, but instead of moving forward with the plan, Scott ended it. One campaign worker said they learned the senator was quitting while watching him on TV.

Scott’s departure from the race wasn’t shocking to the public because he’d never been able to gain traction in the polls. On November 11, a day before he dropped out, he was polling at just over 2%, FiveThirtyEight reported.