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Reports suggest that South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) will announce his endorsement of former President Donald Trump at a rally in New Hampshire on Friday.
The forthcoming endorsement was initially reported by The New York Times, as confirmed by “two people briefed on the matter.”
As per the report, Scott, who withdrew from the presidential race in November, is accompanying Trump on a trip to New Hampshire to participate in a rally, just days before the state’s primary contest. The Times suggests that the endorsement could spark conversations about potential running mates, given the former president’s close ties with former presidential candidate Gov. Doug Burgum:
Mr. Trump has been actively seeking Mr. Scott's endorsement ever since the senator dropped out of the race last year. The endorsement has a significant impact on Mr. Trump's campaign, not just in New Hampshire where the primary is taking place on Tuesday, but also in South Carolina, the home state of one of his main Republican rivals, Nikki Haley.Scott officially ended his presidential campaign on former Rep. Trey Gowdy’s (R-SC) Fox News show in November. However, during his announcement, he emphasised that he was not ready to endorse any of his former rivals.
“I suggest that voters thoroughly examine each candidate, including their past, and make an informed decision for the future of the country,” Scott stated at the time.
“I believe it is most helpful for me to refrain from expressing my opinion on who they should endorse,” he stated.
Scott’s support for Trump comes after the Republican frontrunner’s impressive win in Iowa, where he outperformed his opponents by a significant margin. Additionally, this development occurs shortly before the primary race in the Granite State. Recent polling indicates that Trump is currently ahead of Nikki Haley by a significant margin in New Hampshire. His support comes as a setback for Haley, who aims to make a strong impression in their home state. However, recent polls indicate that Trump is comfortably ahead of her by a significant margin in the Palmetto State.
A video circulating on social media captures Haley’s response to the report.
She expressed a sense of cautious anticipation, stating, “We will see if it happens.”
Scott will have company in his endorsement, as former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also endorsed Trump this week after the Iowa caucuses.
