Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is touting 10 new endorsements from South Carolina politicians who previously backed Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) before he backed out of the GOP presidential primary earlier this week.
The DeSantis presidential campaign announced the slate of new endorsements in the early primary state only five days after Scott announced he would be suspending his campaign.
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The Palmetto State officials endorsing the Sunshine State governor for president include GOP state Reps. Tom Hartnett, Jr., and Bill Taylor, Hampton Mayor Robert Brown, Berkeley County Clerk of Court Leah Guerry Dupree, Greenville County Coroner B. Parks Evans, Jr., Dorchester County Councilman Todd Friddle, Barnwell City Councilman Jimbo Moody, James Island Town Councilman Troy Mullinax, Mount Pleasant Town Councilman Carl Ritchie, and Laurens County Soil & Water Commissioner Patrick Jackson.
Hartnett, who previously endorsed Scott in June, called DeSantis "the only candidate who I know can win" in a statement.
"Ron DeSantis is the leader we need for this exact moment. He not only is the only candidate who I know can win, but he will be the president who will follow through on his promises to reverse the decline of our country,” Hartnett said.
The DeSantis campaign also announced Barnwell City Councilwoman Peggy Kinlaw had endorsed the Florida governor for president, with her calling DeSantis's record as governor "unmatched" in a statement.
The slate of endorsements comes as the three leading GOP presidential contenders all attempt to increase their support through former Scott supporters. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has picked up two major Republican donors who formerly backed Scott, and she is now the sole South Carolinian in the GOP field, which could play well for her odds in the early primary state.
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Former President Donald Trump has several high-profile endorsements from South Carolina, including from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Gov. Henry McMaster (R-SC), and has performed far ahead of the field in state polls. Scott said he would not make an endorsement when he dropped out of the race on Sunday.
The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Trump leading in the Palmetto State with 49.4%, compared to Haley's 18.8% and DeSantis's 10.5%. The South Carolina Republican presidential primary is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2024.