This Wednesday, Republican Senator Tim Scott He surprised a few by announcing his intention to create an “exploratory committee” for next year’s presidential elections in the United States. Something that, in the political language of this country, is equivalent to a semi-official launch of his candidacy because it allows you to start collecting funds for that purpose.
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Scott, who represents South Carolina in the US Congress, is African American, a racial group not generally associated with this party and hence the interest that is arousing both his candidacy and his real intentions.
According to the Senator, decided to explore the option after a foray through several states of the country, among them Iowa and New Hampshire, two of those who vote first and tend to set trends.
“What I found is that people are hungry for hope. They are hungry for a positive and optimistic message anchored in conservative values,” the senator said during an interview with the network fox where he spoke for the first time of his possibilities.
on paper, your candidacy makes a lot of sense. He is a businessman turned politician with a lot of experience, having been on Capitol Hill for 15 years. first as Representative to the House and then the Senate since 2013.
Besides, His story is typical of the American dream. Well, he grew up very poor but he made his way through tenacity and effort. Something that he usually brings up when he has the opportunity.
“Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. And that’s why I think the next American century can be better than the last one,” she once said.
Throughout his career he has defined classic aspects of the conservative movement in the country, such as the anti-abortion position
Throughout his career, he has defined classic aspects of the conservative movement in the country, such as the anti-abortion position, fiscal discipline, commercial openness and a strong hand in foreign policy. But also, like many in the party, in recent times he has moved more to the right on other fronts, such as immigration.
He opposes, for example, offering illegals a path to citizenship, believes that those who employ them should be severely punished and that, in any case, English should be the mandatory language of the country.
Although he cannot be considered a “Trumpist”, he maintains good relations with the former US president and has defended him on multiple occasions except when he has made comments that could be considered racist.
Besides, He is very well standing before the party leadership, which appointed him in 2021 to give the Republican response to President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union Address.
In practice, however, the chances of winning the Republican nomination for next year’s general election are slim to none.
First, because outside of South Carolina, Scott is a national unknown. But above all because that contest is shaping up to be a race between two, or maybe just one.
for now, former President Trump garners more than 50 percent favorability in polls. Numbers that have grown as a result of his criminal prosecution in a New York court, and that few see falling in the months that are needed for the start of the primaries. The only one who seems likely to challenge him is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has not yet announced his candidacy.
Plus, Scott is entering a career that already looks bulging. For now, there are four candidates who have officially launched: Trump, former California governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. But DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others are expected to jump into the fray soon.
The more people jump in, the easier the road is for Trump, who already has solid support among the party base while the others will divide the rest.
What’s more, with its launch, Scott would be doing the former president a favor by helping him divide the anti-Trump vote.
That is why many think that Scott’s real game is for Trump, or whoever wins, to designate him as his vice-presidential ticket. A strategy that others have used in the past to “mature” but that, in the case of the Senator, could pay off.
Although the former president is still popular and obtained 72 million votes in the last elections (8 less than Biden), he has a highly negative image and would have already reached a ceiling. Scott, in this sense, offers him a face that could reassure a few and also divide the African-American vote, which is usually key for the Democratic party.
Scott denies that these are his intentions, saying that he wants to be the first black Republican president. Could be. But he also knows that he would make history as the vice-presidential candidate.
That is what remains to be seen.
SERGIO GOMEZ MASERI
WEATHER CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON
On Twitter: @sergom68
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