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South Carolina’s junior United States senator appears to be the man on the move in the Republican presidential battle – but the downside of gaining momentum is obviously the flak that comes with it.
Tim Scott is poised to experience such downside in the coming days as the campaign of Florida governor Ron DeSantis seems inclined to draw a bead on him in an increasingly acrimonious nominating fight.
The ultimate beneficiary of such a skirmish? Former U.S. president Donald Trump … who despite a pair of high-profile indictments at the state and federal level (and perhaps more charges coming) remains the runaway frontrunner for the GOP nomination.
Earlier this week, reporters Sally Goldenberg and Natalie Allison penned an article on billionaire GOP donor Ronald Lauder and others “starting to more seriously mull backing Scott” in the 2024 presidential race.
“The meeting comes amid widespread angst among wealthy GOP backers about the emerging 2024 field, and DeSantis’ bumpy start in particular,” Goldenberg and Allison noted. “Many high-dollar donors in Trump’s native New York City have tired of the former president and worry about his general election chances. But they say their faith in the Florida governor has been shaken by early campaign missteps and his hardline positions on abortion, transgender rights and other culture-war issues. They fear time is running out for anyone else to break through.”
Enter Scott … whose campaign of positivity has won him plaudits (yet hasn’t elevated him from the second tier of GOP contenders).
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Could Lauder’s money – and the money of other billionaire backers – help him achieve such “elevation?”
DeSantis’ backers don’t want to wait to find out … and are preparing a broadside against Scott in the hopes of making him an unappetizing “Plan B” for GOP mega-donors.
According to a confidential campaign memo obtained exclusively by NBC News earlier this week, DeSantis has identified Scott as his top threat amongst the second tier challengers to Trump.
Vivek Ramaswamy? Nikki Haley? Mike Pence? Chris Christie? Doug Burgum?
Yeah … DeSantis isn’t worried about any of them.
“While Tim Scott has earned a serious look at this stage, his bio is lacking the fight that our electorate is looking for in the next President,” the memo noted. “We expect Tim Scott to receive appropriate scrutiny in the weeks ahead. We’ve found low to no interest in Vivek, Burgum, and Nikki while far too many voters will not consider Pence and Christie for them to feel remotely viable.”
“Appropriate scrutiny?”
Scott supporters told us they interpreted the memo as a “signal to their super PAC to attack Tim.”
According to A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics, DeSantis could uncork his broadside at Scott during a trip to South Carolina this coming week.
(Click to View)
“(DeSantis) will be in the Palmetto State next week, with a campaign event in Tega Cay Monday and a press conference in Columbia Tuesday,” Gancarski wrote. “If he is going on the attack against Scott, that would be a likely place to begin the onslaught.”
What would the onslaught involve, though? One possible avenue attack could involve Scott’s recent absences from the floor of the U.S. Senate.
According to Axios’ Alexi McCammond, Scott’s “longshot presidential campaign is making it easier for Democrats to confirm judges.” Scott has missed multiple judicial votes, which according to McCammond “will be an ongoing issue for the senator.”
Whatever the focus of the broadside is … I suppose we’ll know it when we hear it.
Republicans face voters for the first time in the Iowa Caucus on February 5, 2024. New Hampshire comes eight days later (February 13, 2024) followed by South Carolina and Nevada on February 24, 2024.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.
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3 comments
Dead Man Walking
Also for those who pundit that Scott is running so Trump might pick him for VP, I think Donald’s had enough of religious do-gooders. If nominated Don the Con will pick the ultimate yes man for a running mate and if elected his staff and cabinet will be loaded with fringe wing nuts. Scott will have to find another place and era for his “positivity”.
Tim Scott is the Steppin’ Fetchit of the GOP.
“Boy, get me a Diet coke.”
“Yassuh, Massa Trump. What flavah?