“Tim Scott: Presidential Dream Suspended?

Senator Tim Scott has suspended his struggling 2020 presidential primary bid. The South Carolina Republican had been trying to gain traction in the crowded Republican field but had little success. Scott was the only African American candidate in the race and strongly focused on his personal narrative and his views on economic issues. He had held several campaign events around the country and had spent approximately $1.5 million in the early state of Iowa. Despite Scott’s best efforts, he only received 1% of the vote in the Iowa caucuses, coming in 11th place. He also failed to qualify for the most recent Republican debate. After the dismal showing in Iowa, the Senator decided to exit the race. In a statement, Scott said, “I’m humbled by the support I received throughout this journey, but it’s now clear that my path to the nomination will not continue.” He also added that “it’s time for me to focus my efforts on serving the great state of South Carolina and the Republican Party.” Scott had been one of several moderate Republican candidates vying for the nomination. His positive and inspirational message resonated with some, but it failed to gain traction among a large enough segment of Republicans to propel his campaign to the top. Scott’s path to the nomination looked difficult from the start given the crowded Republican field. Faced with stiff competition, the South Carolina Senator chose to focus on appealing to moderates and bringing fresh ideas to the classic Republican values. Despite being the only African American in the race, Scott chose to focus on larger issues instead of capitalizing on his unique racial background. His decision may have been the wrong one as he failed to generate enough enthusiasm with voters. While it appears unlikely that Scott will be the successful Republican candidate in 2020, his decision to run was successful in that he helped bring new issues and perspectives to the forefront and provided his party with a more positive outlook. For now, Senator Tim Scott has withdrawn from the race, but his impact on the Republican Party will continue to be felt, even if he isn’t the eventual nominee.