Tim Scott endorses Donald Trump for president over Nikki Haley

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., endorsed Donald Trump on Friday night time at a rally in New Hampshire, throwing his assist behind the previous president as an alternative of fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley.

“I got here to the very heat state of New Hampshire to endorse the following president of those United States — President Donald Trump,” Scott stated.

He’s the most recent in a string of former Republican presidential rivals to assist Trump, following Vivek Ramaswamy’s resolution Monday to drop out of the 2024 race and again Trump after the Iowa caucuses. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum additionally not too long ago gave Trump his assist.

However Scott, of South Carolina, is an even bigger prize forward of his residence state main on Feb. 24. He endorsed Trump over Haley, who as governor of the state appointed him to his Senate seat in 2012 earlier than Scott then gained re-election a number of occasions in his personal proper.

“Attention-grabbing that Trump’s lining up with all of the Washington insiders when he claimed he wished to empty the swamp,” Haley stated earlier Friday in response to Scott’s plans to endorse Trump. “However the fellas are gonna do what the fellas are gonna do.”

Scott finalized his resolution to again Trump on Friday morning after the previous president and Haley approached him this week to ask about an endorsement, a supply concerned in Scott’s decision-making informed NBC Information. DeSantis had not made an express ask for Scott’s endorsement since December.

Along with Friday night time’s occasion in New Hampshire, conversations are underway about Scott doubtlessly becoming a member of Trump once more on Sunday or Monday.

Trump has additionally been endorsed by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and three of the state’s Republican members of the U.S. Home. Haley’s lone congressional endorsement is from Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C.

Trump now has the official backing of 26 out of 49 Senate Republicans.

Scott’s endorsement comes 4 days earlier than the New Hampshire main, the place Trump hopes to additional capitalize on his landslide win within the Iowa caucuses.

Scott, who dropped out of the presidential race in November, can be seen as a possible operating mate for Trump ought to he win the Republican nomination