Super PAC Supporting Tim Scott Cancels TV Ad Blitz

Facts

• The Trust in the Mission PAC (Political Action Committee), which is backing Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has canceled all of its $40M worth of upcoming television and digital ads.¹
• In a memo obtained by the press, the PAC known as 'TIM PAC' explained how it isn't 'going to waste' its money because the 'electorate isn’t focused or ready' to consider anyone other than former Pres. Donald Trump, the current GOP frontrunner.²
• Instead of the ads, which were slated to run in the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, the PAC said it will 'fully fund' its current Scott-centered grassroots and door-knocking programs.²
• Scott’s $22M from his Senate campaign gave him a cash advantage over his non-Trump rivals, but he has yet to break through in polling for a race that has long featured Trump ahead of the pack with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a distant second.³
• In a Washington Post polling average for September and October, Scott was registering at 3%. A CBS News/YouGov poll in September had him at 6% in Iowa and 5% in New Hampshire among likely Republican voters.³
• Scott has dismissed questions about whether he intends to withdraw from the race, and his campaign responded to questions about the PAC’s memo by saying the campaign 'was built for the long haul.'⁴

Sources: ¹CNN, ²FOX News, ³Washington Post and ⁴Politico.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. No one can blame TIM PAC for scaling back its spending, as GOP voters have remained enthralled with Trump while Scott hasn't been able to move up in polling. His bigger concern should be meeting the requirements for the next GOP debate — a problem some of his rivals also have. In the long run, though, it might be worth sticking in the race in case there's a need for an experienced, prepared alternative to Trump.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC. This move by TIM PAC just shows Scott’s campaign is in freefall. It was truly doomed from the start, as his message of fiscal responsibility was never going to resonate with an electorate that's devoted to Trump. It's ironic that it's now Scott's donors who are being careful with their money while his polling numbers linger in the low single digits.

Predictions