By Mitesh
Republican Tim Scott announced on Sunday night that he is halting his presidential campaign while appearing on “Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy” on Fox News.
Scott, who had canceled a recent Iowa swing due to the flu, made the announcement, stating, “When I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign.”
Despite the positive outlook from his campaign earlier in the weekend, the decision came as a shock to several campaign members. Scott had launched his campaign on May 22 with an optimistic message and endorsements from Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune.
Throughout his campaign, Tim Scott faced challenges, including a lackluster performance in the first debate in Milwaukee, where he struggled to stand out among other candidates.
Doubts emerged regarding whether he possessed the assertiveness deemed necessary for a presidential role, prompting Scott to undertake efforts to redefine his public image.
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Despite attracting significant donors during a fundraising swing, Tim Scott’s polling numbers began to decline, and his campaign faced rumors of not making it to the third debate. They withdrew fall ad buys and redirected resources to focus on Iowa, but the anticipated momentum did not materialize.
Scott’s campaign ultimately faced difficulties in meeting the polling threshold for the fourth debate in Alabama.
Despite the campaign’s efforts, including a planned weekly visit to Iowa until the caucus in January, Tim Scott’s inability to seize his moment led to the suspension of his once-optimistic campaign.
In his statement on Fox News, Scott chose not to disclose whom he would endorse and confirmed that he had no plans to pursue another term in the Senate.
Though he made it clear that he had no intentions of taking on the role of someone’s vice president, he kept the possibility of a future candidacy open. He conveyed his belief, expressing, “I believe I could have taken this country to new heights by promoting unity around conservative principles. Optimism arises from resilience. I believe I was destined to run; winning wasn’t the only purpose.”
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