Scott Enters Packed 2024 Field With Less Baggage Than Trump, More Ambiguity On Challenging Him

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott has launched an exploratory committee for president in 2024.
Scott would be the first Black Republican nominee but currently trails Trump, DeSantis, and Haley by a significant margin in polls.
Scott attacked Democrats for "weaponizing race" but avoided directly criticizing Trump or saying whether he'd endorse Trump as nominee.
Scott will compete with Haley for South Carolina donors and has strong donor support himself, raising questions over how viable either candidacy can become.
Trump's dominance, legal peril, and supporters' grievance politics present steep obstacles for candidates pitching a more hopeful, policy-focused message like Scott's.