Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) announced on Sunday evening that he had suspended his presidential campaign after receiving a message from the voters telling him “not now.”
Scott revealed the suspension of his campaign during an interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy.”
“If you ever want to love your country more, run for president,” Scott began. “Traveling this country, meeting people has been one of the most fantastic experiences of my entire life. I love America more today than I did on May 22nd. But, when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign.”
Tonight, I suspended my campaign for president.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) November 13, 2023
Traveling this country and meeting all of you has been one of the most fantastic experiences of my entire life.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
God Bless the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/yniJWQMW1N
“I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they’re telling me, ‘Not now, Tim,'” Scott told Gowdy. “I don’t think they’re saying, Trey, ‘No,’ but I do think they’re saying, ‘Not now,’ and so I’m going to respect the voters and I’m going to hold on and keep working really hard and look forward to another opportunity.”
Scott’s announcement comes days after the third Republican presidential debate was held with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Scott.
A poll from the Trafalgar Group conducted between Nov. 3 and 5 showed Scott receiving 3.7% of support from voters, while Ramaswamy received 4%, Christie received 5.3%, DeSantis received 13.2%, Haley received 15%, and former President Donald Trump received 50.1%.
Similarly, a poll from Morning Consult conducted during the same time frame showed Scott receiving 2% of support. Christie received 3%, Ramaswamy received 7%, Haley received 8%, DeSantis received 15% and Trump received 63% of support.
Tim Scott is a strong conservative with bold ideas about how to get our country back on track. I respect his courage to run this campaign and thank him for his service to America and the U.S. Senate.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 13, 2023
I look forward to Tim continuing to be a leader in our party for years to come.
“Tim Scott is a strong conservative with bold ideas about how to get our country back on track,” DeSantis wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I respect his courage to run this campaign and thank him for his service to America and the U.S. Senate.”
DeSantis added that he looks “forward to Tim continuing to be a leader” in the Republican Party for many years.