Republican presidential hopeful Tim Scott returns to Iowa this week riding high in a new Hawkeye State poll and looking to capitalize on two key campaign events.
The South Carolina U.S. senator will host a town hall with Governor Kim Reynolds Thursday evening in Ankeny before speaking at the Iowa GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner fundraiser on Friday.
Scott’s town hall begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the District Venue in Ankeny, according to the candidate’s campaign. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
“I’m excited to be back in Iowa with the Hawkeye State’s phenomenal Governor, Kim Reynolds,” Scott said in a press release. “As we continue to take our message of faith and optimism anchored in conservatism across the country, voters are gravitating toward our campaign focused on hope, opportunity, and protecting the America we love.”
Scott just might be more excited to be back in Iowa than ever.
A new Fox Business poll of Iowa GOP caucus-goers showed Scott climbing to third place, still well behind front-runner former President Donald Trump, but seemingly pulling support from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump is polling at 46 percent, distantly followed by DeSantis (16 percent) and Scott cracking double digits (11 percent).
According to the FiveThirtyEight polling histories, Scott has seen his political fortunes steadily rise in the Hawkeye State in recent weeks. In five Iowa polls published in April and May, the senator was averaging 2.6 percent support. He’s averaging nearly 8 percent in seven Iowa polls since.
For sure, Scott’s “opportunity” message is resonating with Iowa Republicans. He’s definitely been making the rounds. As of last week, Scott had spent five days campaigning in the first-in-the-nation caucus state, according to a campaign tracker from FiveThirtyEight and ABC News. That’s a far cry from the 14 days and 19 days that former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, respectively, have spent campaigning in Iowa, but Scott is tied with Trump and DeSantis in Hawkeye State campaign days.
Scott and friends have spent a lot of money getting his message out early in early-voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire.
Scott and the super PAC backing his presidential run had spent north of $3 million between July 1 and July 24, according to ad-spending numbers from AdImpact.
Then again, there’s a lot of spending going around.
As of last week, nearly $21 million in presidential ad spending had hit Iowa, according to AdImpact. That’s more than eight times the $2.5 million spent at the same point in the 2020 presidential election cycle.
“AdImpact also reports that 2024 candidates and outside groups are spending more on ads in Iowa than in any other state,” Des Moines TV station KCCI reported. “New Hampshire’s seen $12 million, South Carolina’s seen $5.8 million and Nevada’s seen $930 thousand so far in the 2024 cycle.
Ads supporting Scott lead the way, with $40.7 million spent thus far, followed by $21.6 million for Trump, and $18.2 million for DeSantis, as of Monday’s numbers.
#Election2024: Doug Burgum is the 7th candidate to qualify for the 1st GOP primary debate. Total ad $ supporting each qualifying candidate:
Tim Scott: $40.7M
Donald Trump: $21.6M
Ron DeSantis: $18.2M
Burgum: $5.9M
Nikki Haley: $4.6M
Vivek Ramaswamy: $1.7M
Chris Christie: $170K https://t.co/mviAk4eAqb— AdImpact Politics (@AdImpact_Pol) July 25, 2023
But while Scott has seen his polling numbers climb in Iowa and New Hampshire, he’s not picking up much steam nationally. He was running under 3 percent, the latest RealClearPolitics average of Republican presidential primary polls, good for a sixth-place showing among candidates registering a pulse.
Scott is faring much better in Iowa and New Hampshire, where he’s polling at 6 percent, closing in on former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for third place.
As Fox News Digital noted this week, Scott’s lift in the state polls and his healthy fundraising figures have fueled efforts by rivals to place a bullseye on the senator’s back.
Super PACs aligned with two Scott rivals – DeSantis and former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley – have targeted the senator, the news outlet reported.
DeSantis told Fox News he plans to “keep doing what we’re doing.”
“It’s working, so we have to continue to show up,” the senator said.
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M.D. Kittle is the National Political Editor for The Star News Network.
Photo “Tim Scott” by Tim Scott.
