Staff
Tim Scott, the only Black republican in the U.S. Senate, is making national headlines with the launch of a presidential exploratory committee. Scott, who is just the fourth Republican to brave the waters in a race against Trump, is well-liked among his GOP colleagues and was instrumental in issues regarding workforce development, education and diversity andcreating Opportunity Zones with the potential to bringing billions of dollars of private investment into distressed communities across the country.
Of course, while an exploratory committee is not an official announcement of candidacy, it is a first step that also allows him to start raising money and building out campaign infrastructure.
But Scott’s own statements provide even greater proof of the serious consideration he’s given to the move. When asked in a recent CBS interview if he would support Trump as the nominee, Scott countered, “I plan on being the nominee.”
“I have found that people are starving for hope,” the 57-year-old conservative told Fox and Friends. “They’re starving for an optimistic, positive message that is anchored in conservative values.”
The South Carolina native is the second Black elected to the Senate since Reconstruction. The 21.8 million left in his campaign coffers from his successful Senate campaigns will give him an advantage over former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in efforts to raise monies for a presidential bid and increase his national profile.
It will be an uphill climb even in his home state where in a recent poll of South Carolina Republicans, 41% said they would vote for Trump. Just 7% indicated that they would vote for Scott.
However, Scott, a man of deep faith, is known for his optimism.
“I know America is a land of opportunity, not a land of oppression. I know it because I lived it. Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime,” Scott said in a video posted online dubbed “Faith in America”. “That’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.”
Just two months ago, Scott— the Senate’s lead GOP negotiator for police reform— rejected the idea of taking up the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
“Resurrecting the House progressives’ police reform bill is a nonstarter,” he remarked in a Twitter post. Instead, he added, “I’ve been working toward common ground solutions that actually have a shot at passing. Solutions to increase funding and training to make sure only the best wear the badge. Solutions that would have made a difference in places like Memphis & Kenosha.”