GOP presidential hopeful Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) dropped out of the race for the White House, throwing Fox News host Trey Gowdy for a loop when he unexpectedly sprung the news on live television.
The South Carolina Republican has struggled to gain traction in the polls despite his hopeful message and inspirational life story and on this week’s edition of “Sunday Night in America With Trey Gowdy” he officially suspended his campaign to the surprise of the visibly stunned host.
(Video: Fox News)
Gowdy welcomed the senator by asking how he was feeling after coming down with the flu which caused him to cancel his campaign events in Iowa and noting that the Dallas Cowboys had won earlier in the day when Scott dropped his bombshell.
“I’ve been drinking a lot of water,” Scott replied. “I’ll be down for another couple days. But I’m looking forward to getting back on the campaign trail” but said that when he does, it wouldn’t be as a candidate.
“But when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate,” he said. “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.’ I don’t think they’re saying, Trey, ‘No,’ but I do think they’re saying, ‘Not now,’ and so, I’m gonna respect the voters and I’m gonna hold on and keep working really hard, and look forward to another opportunity.”
“You are… you are suspending your presidential campaign?” Gowdy asked after a short pause. “You have… you have plenty of money. You have the highest approval numbers of any candidate that is running and you’re… you’re a couple of states from coming to a state where you are beloved, and you are suspending your presidential campaign?”
Scott responded by referring to a Bible verse. “You know Romans 8:28, such an important scripture, says that all things work together for good for those who love God and they’re called according to his purpose, I think the message is clear for me right now, I am indeed suspending the campaign,” he said, adding that he’s committed to helping the country choose the “right person” for the nomination.
“I’m trying, I’m trying to process this information and I’m trying to do it on live television, so forgive me,” said the flummoxed Gowdy, running down a list of Scott’s accomplishments in befuddlement that he would call it quits before the primaries have even started and spent the next several minutes talking with the ex-candidate in a state of shock and disbelief.
“Tonight, I suspended my campaign for president,” Scott later wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Traveling this country and meeting all of you has been one of the most fantastic experiences of my entire life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. God Bless the United States of America.
Scott’s announcement comes as the frontrunner, former President Donald J. Trump holds a commanding lead and the media is coalescing around former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as the Biden slayer with the Iowa caucuses just two months away.
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