OAN’s James Meyers
8:21 AM – Monday, November 13, 2023
Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott has pulled his name from the 2024 presidential race.
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The move came as a surprise to his own campaign staff, donors and even a TV interviewer.
“When I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Scott (R-S.C.) said in an appearance on former GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy’s Fox News program.
“I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me: not now,” Scott continued.
The move by Scott comes as he and other GOP candidates have continued to fall far behind as the latest polls show almost a 40 point lead for former President Donald Trump.
Before the surprising announcement, Scott’s campaign team sent out a fundraising email. “We want to give you ONE LAST CHANCE to donate this weekend and help Tim reach his campaign goal. Can you chip in to help Tim win?” the campaign wrote.
Additionally, the dropout also comes days after the third Republican presidential debate took place in Miami. Scott canceled a scheduled weekend campaign event in Iowa, citing the flu.
Scott in the interview with Gowdy did not say he is looking to endorse any of his former rivals for the presidential nominee.
“I’m going to recommend that the voters study each candidate and their candidacies and, frankly, their past and make a decision for the future of the country,” he said. “The best way for me to be helpful is to not weigh in on who they should endorse.
Scott’s 2024 GOP rivals weighed in on the decision to drop out of the race.
“Tim Scott is a strong conservative with bold ideas about how to get our country back on track. I respect his courage to run this campaign and thank him for his service to America and the U.S. Senate. I look forward to Tim continuing to be a leader in our party for years to come,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on X.
“I gave @SenatorTimScott a congratulatory [gold fist bump emoji] on stage when the other South Carolinian shamelessly copied *exactly* what he said,” Ramaswamy posted on X. “Wishing Tim all the best back in the U.S. Senate.”
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