The political fate of Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) appears to be in flux. A super PAC backing Scott’s re-election campaign, the Conservative Leadership Fund, has pulled its fall advertising, citing the lack of traction in the race.
Scott, a lone Black Republican in the Senate, is facing a formidable challenge from Democratic opponent Jaime Harrison. According to a study conducted by the Cook Political Report, the race “leans Democrat” with Harrison currently leading the polls.
The Conservative Leadership Fund was founded by Thomas W. Simmons, a prominent South Carolina businessman. The political action committee had planned to spend roughly $3 million this fall in an effort to re-elect Scott. That would have been in addition to the roughly $3 million already spent by the National Republican Senatorial Committee this year.
In a statement, Simmons said the decision to pull the fall advertising was “based on a thorough analysis of the current political environment.”
The move highlights the increasingly bleak electoral landscape that Scott faces. Harrison has been buoyed by an influx of cash from out-of-state donors and has strong backing from progressive organizations. He has opened a lead in the latest polls, with some surveys even showing a double-digit lead.
Scott, however, is one of the most popular elected officials in the state and has a dedicated base of supporters. He’s seeking his third term in the Senate and continues to run on his record as a fiscal conservative and advocate for conservative endeavors. He has found support, too, from several high-profile groups like the Club for Growth, which recently donated nearly $3 million to the Scott campaign.
The election is likely to come down to the wire, and it remains to be seen whether Scott can overtake Harrison or if the Democrats can expand their current lead. But the decision by the Conservative Leadership Fund to pull its fall advertising is undoubtedly a setback for the Scott campaign.
