The former president and his allies had been privately seeking the endorsement of Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
Senator Tim Scott is set to endorse Donald J. Trump at a rally in New Hampshire, as confirmed by two individuals familiar with the matter. Scott, the highest-ranking elected Black Republican in the nation, is anticipated to join Trump in New Hampshire after travelling to Florida. This endorsement may fuel speculation about Scott being considered as a potential running mate for the former president.
Scott reached this decision recently, having initially declared after ending his presidential campaign on Nov. 12 that he would not endorse “anytime soon.” However, he ultimately concluded that Trump was the most viable candidate to challenge President Biden, according to a source familiar with his decision-making.
A spokesperson for Scott declined to comment, and a representative for the former president did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In response to the endorsement, Nikki Haley, another contender for the Republican nomination, remarked on the alignment of Trump with Washington insiders.
During the election race, Trump refrained from criticizing Scott, demonstrating a positive rapport with the senator, with whom he had collaborated during his presidency. In 2020, Scott was given a prominent speaking role at the Republican National Convention. While Scott offered mild criticism of Trump on occasion, he generally avoided sharp attacks.
Trump had actively sought Scott’s endorsement since the senator exited the presidential race last year. Scott’s support not only boosts Trump in New Hampshire but also in South Carolina, the home state of one of Trump’s top Republican rivals, Nikki Haley. The Trump team aims to secure a decisive victory in South Carolina’s primary on Feb. 24, hoping to prompt Haley and Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida to exit the race.
Endorsements from prominent figures have been crucial for Trump to project inevitability in the ongoing nomination battle. Scott’s endorsement follows support from former rivals Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Marco Rubio. This decision may be particularly impactful for Nikki Haley, who, as the governor of South Carolina, appointed Scott to the Senate more than a decade ago in 2012.
All three remaining candidates—Trump, Haley, and DeSantis—had contacted Scott, and various lobbying efforts were made on Haley’s behalf. Scott, despite struggling to gain traction in the primary, remains highly popular among Republican voters, as indicated by favourable ratings in South Carolina and New Hampshire surveys conducted by Public Opinion Strategies last fall.
