Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said on Monday his presidential campaign is employing an “Iowa or bust” strategy.
The 2024 candidate reacted to a new poll showing him in fourth place at 7% support among likely Iowa caucusgoers, down from 9%, in a large but shrinking field of competitors.
“It’s one of the reasons why we’re heading to Iowa and staying there consistently, because we realize that historically speaking, Iowa voters, they break late in the cycle, and that’s great news, having an opportunity for us to continue to share our message,” Scott told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
“And to do it full-time in Iowa will be very helpful,” Scott added. He then alluded to GOP presidential candidates in past election cycles who peaked atop Iowa polling weeks before losing in the state’s caucuses.
“We have to remember historically, 2011, 2015, it was Herman Cain and Ben Carson were leading in the Des Moines Register polls,” Scott said. “So we are excited about where we are. We have made the decision that it’s Iowa or bust for us, and I’m looking forward to being there.”
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Hewitt asked Scott whether he would exit the race if the senator does not finish in first or second place in either Iowa or New Hampshire — another early-voting state.
“You know, Hugh, I’m not going to make any predictions other than that we will be in the top two in Iowa without any question,” Scott replied.
Less than two and a half months until Caucus Day in mid-January, Scott is hovering around 2% in national polls. In the new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, Scott trailed three candidates. The survey showed 43% of likely 2024 GOP caucusgoers picked former President Donald Trump as their first choice for president, followed by 16% for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and 16% for former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
The Trust in the Mission PAC, the political action committee backing Scott’s campaign, announced roughly two weeks ago that it was canceling a fall slate of TV ad reservations. In a memo to donors, co-chairman Rob Collins argued Scott was the “best fit for the Iowa electorate” and said the PAC would “pivot” away from heavy TV spending in favor of “direct-engagement” events as well as expanding its field program in the state. A week later, Scott’s campaign said the senator was going “all in” on Iowa, shifting money and staff from New Hampshire to Iowa.