Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has become the latest presidential hopeful after filing paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission.
Scott, who will hold a launch event in his home state Monday, has been priming for an announcement for weeks. He started a presidential exploratory committee last month.
A devout Christian, Scott is centering his campaign around traditional values as well as a general call for a return to more harmonious, patriotic times.
“American families are starving for hope,” Scott tweeted. “We need to have faith. Faith in God, faith in each other, and faith in America.”
American families are starving for hope.
We need to have faith.
Faith in God, faith in each other, and faith in America. pic.twitter.com/59Bha0JpEk
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) May 18, 2023
In a field that is becoming ever more crowded – Scott joins former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the quest for the Republican nomination – Scott isn’t even the only South Carolinian on the ticket.
Scott was raised in poverty by a single mother and has risen to the heights of American government. He often points to his own story as evidence that the American dream still exists and that the nation is one of equality of opportunity.
That optimism will be tested. His hope for distinguishing himself and gaining ground on frontrunner Trump is a distant one. Scott is going to try to thread the needle between calling for brotherly love and also standing fiercely opposed to the more extreme elements of progressivism.
The latter element of his campaign is compulsory for any Republican candidate. Conservative voters might differ on many issues, but virtually all are in agreement that the political fight must be brought with full force against the left.
Scott, who is known for his even-keeled and positive approach to life and governance, will have to prove that he is willing to dive into the fight, even if he does so with more tact than Trump.
The senator gave a hint of what this might look like recently when he discussed his stance on American education, which is decidedly pro-parental rights.
Over the course of just a few hours, Scott asserted his opinion in a brief, then confronted Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona over questionable remarks.
“The kids are the future of America,” Scott tweeted. “And when parents have a choice, kids have a chance.”
The kids are the future of America.
And when parents have a choice, kids have a chance. pic.twitter.com/596t2ikjGt
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) May 19, 2023
When Cardona tweeted, “Teachers know what is best for their kids because they are with them every day. We must trust teachers,” Scott replied, “Whose kids?”
Whose kids? https://t.co/b1QEbD7pwD
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) May 19, 2023
It is imperative that Scott, if he is to make any headway, establish himself as a contender quickly.
Not only is he wading into a crowded field and faced with overcoming the strong polling of Trump, but his campaign launch could also precede the long-expected presidential announcement of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by mere days.
DeSantis remains active on the national scene but has not yet declared himself a candidate. However, time is getting tight and the Florida governor will soon be forced to make a call.