In a Nov. 12 announcement that surprised his own staff, Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott decided to suspend his presidential campaign, Politico reported.
"When I go back to Iowa it will not be as a presidential candidate," Scott said to friend and Fox News host Trey Gowdy, who was seemingly caught off-guard. "The voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet … They're telling me, 'not now, Tim.' I don't think they're saying, Trey, 'no,' but I do they're saying, 'not now.'"
On a call with campaign staff immediately after his television interview, Scottwho had polled in the low-single digitsacknowledged that the announcement "may have caught you by surprise," and that he "tried to be as strategic as possible dealing with this."
According to a GLAAD item from this year, Newsweek reported that Scott "considers homosexuality a morally wrong choice, like adultery." Also, the Human Rights Campaign noted that Scott has supported a number of anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including opposing marriage equality, and supporting "Don't Say LGBTQ+" and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" laws. Scott also introduced federal legislation that would defund schools that protect transgender children.
Interestingly, at one point, some members of Scott's own party wondered about his sexuality, referring to a then-no-named girlfriend as a "lovely Christian girl." However, interior designer Mindy Nocea woman Scott said he'd be dating for "about a year or so"appeared at the most recent Republican primary debate.
Andrew Davis