GOP Presidential Candidate Suddenly Drops Out, Staffers Are Shocked

Republican Presidential candidate Senator Tim Scott has officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.

Senator Scott’s announcement to drop out was made late Sunday night and stunned both his donors and staffers who were not briefed about him dropping out.

Scott stated “I love America more today than I did on May 22,” Scott said Sunday. “But when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign.”

He continued “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.”

Watch Tim Scott here:

Senator Tim Scott chose his longtime friend and fellow South Carolinian Trey Gowdy’s Fox show to announce that his presidential campaign is over. Gowdy sounded genuinely surprised >>> pic.twitter.com/8f42s763OR

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) November 13, 2023

Tim Scott ends his presidential campaign on live TV, Fox News host is stunned. (Video: Fox News) pic.twitter.com/MbDGKfGb6l

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 13, 2023

Per The Associated Press:

Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott abruptly announced late Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 race, a development that surprised his donors and stunned his campaign staff just two months before the start of voting in Iowa’s leadoff GOP caucuses.

The South Carolina senator, who entered the race in May with high hopes, made the surprise announcement on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Night in America” with Trey Gowdy, one of his closest friends. The news was so unanticipated that one campaign worker told The Associated Press that campaign staff found out Scott was dropping out by watching the show.

“I love America more today than I did on May 22,” Scott said Sunday. “But when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign. 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’s impending departure comes as he and the rest of the GOP field have struggled in a race that has been dominated by former President Donald Trump. Despite four criminal indictments and a slew of other legal challenges, Trump continues to poll far ahead of his rivals, leading many in the party to conclude the race is effectively over, barring some stunning change of fortune.

WATCH: Tim Scott just officially ended his 2024 White House bid during interview with Fox News’ @TGowdySC pic.twitter.com/sCpqb2oQ67

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) November 13, 2023

Per USA Today:

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. announced Sunday that he is suspending his 2024 presidential campaign, less than a week after the third GOP primary debate.

Scott made the announcement to Fox News’ Trey Gowdy, his fellow South Carolinian who also served in Congress.

“I love America more today than I did on May 22. But when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Scott said. The lawmaker did not immediately endorse another Republican in the 2024 presidential race, and he denied that his campaign was an effort to become vice president.

“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 added. “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.

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