The African-American senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott, has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination, thus becoming a new contender against Donald Trump. The former president has congratulated Scott on his candidacy, showing his support for him. Scott’s speech is based on his personal story of upward mobility, telling the story of a poor, black child in the southern United States who was raised by a single mother and a grandfather who worked in the cotton fields. At 57, Scott became the only African-American senator in the Republican Party and is now seeking the Republican nomination, focusing his criticism on Democratic President Joe Biden.
In his speech in North Charleston, Scott claimed that Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking American values, schools, the economy, and the security of the country. He stated that he will not allow this to happen during his term and that he will not stand idly by. Although the South Carolina senator only gets 2% in the polls in a mostly white party, his candidacy could disperse votes in the Republican primary and weaken Trump’s main rival, Ron DeSantis. Trump has even congratulated Scott via his social network, Truth Social.
In addition to Scott, other candidates in the Republican presidential race include Nikki Haley, former ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration; Asa Hutchinson, former governor of Arkansas; Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur; and Larry Elder, a popular radio host and the first African-American to enter the race to succeed Biden.
As the primaries progress, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to make his candidacy official in the coming days.