Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has taken the first step toward the race for the White House.
The prominent Republican senator announced the news accompanied by a slickly produced video on Twitter earlier this morning.
“On this day, April 12, 1861, in this harbor, the first shots of the Civil War were fired and our country faced the defining moment: Would we truly be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. America’s soul was put to the test – and we prevailed,” Scott said at the top of the video.
Scott vowed that he’d “never back down in defense of the conservative values that make America exceptional.”
“That’s why I’m announcing my exploratory committee for President of the United States,” he added.
As The Washington Times reports:
The presidential exploratory committee allows Mr. Scott to raise funds for expenses such as polling or travel before making the leap into the race.
He would square off against Mr. Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, the Republican who appointed him to his Senate in 2012 before he won a series of elections to remain a senator.
Other Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are expected to enter the race.
Scott is on what he calls his “Faith in America” listening tour, which he said would help him decide whether to launch a presidential campaign. Word of the tour was first reported by Fox News earlier this year.
A fool and their money are soon parted.