This is part of The Hill’s ongoing series examining Donald Trump’s possible vice presidential nominees.
Senator Tim Scott (RS.C.) is a constant presence in Donald Trump’s orbit since he gave up his own presidential candidacy at the end of last year.
He perplexed for the former commander in chief in New Hampshire as Trump tried to fend off a primary challenge from former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. He praised Trump at a rally in Scott’s home state of South Carolina in February. And he is an essential replacement for the former president on national television.
Scott is now considered one of the most promising candidates for Trump’s vice presidential election in November. If that happens and the Republicans win, he would also be the first black person on the Republican nomination list.
“Tim Scott would be a great choice,” said Brian Seitchik, a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. “He is certainly qualified to be president of the United States, he opens the doors to the black community, which is doing better in polls in the last election cycle than before, and Senator Scott certainly encourages African-American voters to look at Donald Trump in a different light.”
Republicans argue that Scott would be an excellent strategic choice for Trump, not only because he could appeal to black voters, but generally because of his humble background.
“He doesn’t come from an elite background, he’s an average American,” said Charles Cogar, Scott’s former legislative director. “He struggled as a child and he knows it took hard work, determination and opportunity to get to where he is today. So he really wants to make sure that everyone else has the same access to those opportunities and that education. That’s part of who he is.”
Scott, the descendant of enslaved Africans, grew up in a single-parent household in North Charleston, South Carolina. His mother often worked long hours and the family moved frequently.
In his autobiography, he recalls the night his mother, Frances, left his father, a Vietnam Air Force veteran. Scott was only seven.
“All I remember is the green shag carpet, the screaming, the sound of fists banging against the walls – and the conviction that everything bad that happened was my fault,” Scott wrote. “I clearly remember the feeling of pressure, as if a great weight was pressing down on my chest and shoulders, making it impossible for me to take a deep breath.”
Frances moved into her parents’ house in South Carolina with 7-year-old Scott and his older brother Ben.
It wasn’t the last time Scott had problems. He also faced challenges in school. As a freshman in high school, he failed four classes. Sometimes he would find hateful notes in his locker with racist slurs scrawled on them.
But when he was a senior, he was elected student body president. After graduating from high school, Scott attended Presbyterian College and earned his bachelor’s degree from Charleston Southern University.
In 1994, Scott began a campaign for Charleston County Council. But when he expressed his interest in the council to Democratic Party headquarters, Scott said, “They told me to get in line.”
So he ran as a Republican.
In 1995, he became the first black Republican elected to office in South Carolina since 1902. In 2010, Scott ran for the House of Representatives and became the first black Republican from the Palmetto State to hold office there since 1897.
When Senator Jim DeMint resigned in 2012, Haley, then governor of the state, appointed Scott to replace him. Scott became the first black Republican senator since 1978 and the first black Republican senator from the South since Reconstruction.
“Scott’s experience as a U.S. Senator and his positive, solutions-oriented approach to policy could add significant value to Trump’s campaign,” said Whitley Yates, diversity and engagement director for the Indiana Republican Party. “Scott is known for his focus on economic opportunity, education and criminal justice reform. He brings a compassionate and optimistic attitude that resonates with many voters.”
“His appeal extends to diverse demographics, including Democrats, Republicans, independents, white voters, black/African American voters and Latino voters, suggesting he has the potential to help Trump attract a broader and more diverse voter base,” Yates added.
Scott tried to run for the White House himself last May, but suspended the campaign in November. Since then, he has been campaigning for Trump, who had hinted earlier this year that Scott could be one of his favorites for a running mate.
Trump is seeking the support of black voters, a crucial voting base for Biden.
Although Pew Research Center polls show that a majority of black voters lean Democrat, 18 percent would vote for Trump if the election were held today – an augment from the 12 percent who voted for the former president in 2020.
Seitchik warned that Scott’s election would not guarantee Trump would do better with black voters on Election Day, but it could encourage them to take another look at his candidate.
However, since Trump has still not announced who his running mate will be, Seitchik says the biggest question will be how aggressive and devoted the senator will be during the campaign.
“The job is two-fold. Of course it’s being an attack dog and a counter-puncher, but there’s also a loyalty component here,” Seitchik said. “I expect one of the questions Team Trump will ask potential vice presidential candidates is, would this person do anything differently than Mike Pence did in January 2021? I don’t know the answer to that question from Senator Scott’s perspective, but I expect the answer to that question will be pretty important to Team Trump.”
Just hours after a violent mob attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Scott voted to certify President Biden’s election. During a primary debate in August, Scott then said then-Vice President Mike Pence did “absolutely” the right thing that day.
But when asked earlier this month whether he would accept the November results if Biden wins re-election, Scott refused to answer.
“Ultimately, the 47th president of the United States will be President Donald Trump,” Scott said.
