South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is set to endorse former President Donald Trump on Friday evening during a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire, a source familiar confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Scott had been running for the GOP nomination until mid-November, conceding that voters were relaying to him “not now, Tim.” The endorsement is significant as Scott was appointed to his position in the upper chamber in 2012 by former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is currently polling second place for the first-in-the-nation primary on Tuesday.
With Scott’s backing, Trump will have secured the endorsements from several former 2024 GOP hopefuls, including conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, radio personality Larry Elder and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson.
The New York Times first reported the expected endorsement. (RELATED: Tim Scott Suspends Presidential Campaign)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 08: Republican presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks during the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Trump is currently leading Haley 46.8% to 33.3% in the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average for the state, followed by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 12%, DeSantis at 6% and Ramaswamy at 6%. Christie and Ramaswamy have both withdrawn from the race.
The expected endorsement also comes a month out from Scott’s home state primary on Feb. 24, where Trump currently holds a massive 30-point lead over Haley in the RCP average, followed by DeSantis with 11% support.
Scott launched his presidential bid in late May and focused his campaign largely on restoring traditional American values, tackling the border crisis, combatting China, promoting parental rights in education and reducing crime and inflation.
The senator said he wasn’t planning on weighing in on the primary when he announced his decision to leave the race during an interview with Fox News’ Trey Gowdy, and skirted the question on his desire to be a potential running mate.
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