Sen. Scott Continues Iowa Tour as 2024 Buzz Grows

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) walks through the U.S. Capitol before he delivers the republican response to President Biden's address to congress in Washington, D.C., on April 28, 2021. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) continued his “Faith In America” tour on Feb. 22 in a back-and-forth exchange with a crowd of Polk County Republicans at their Lincoln Day Dinner in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Yet even as he builds momentum, South Carolina’s junior senator has stayed mum on 2024.

Scott spoke earlier on Feb. 21 at Drake University in Des Moines.

There, he pushed back against some of the racially-charged rhetoric he has faced as a black conservative Republican serving in the U.S. Senate.

“For those of you on the Left, you can call me a prop, you can call me a token, you can call me the n-word. You can question my blackness, you can even call me Uncle Tim. Just understand, your words are no match for my evidence,” Scott said.

Scott’s Lincoln Day Dinner speech maneuvered through much the same territory, though delivered more informally, as he moved through the room, microphone in hand.

“The one thing you cannot be as an African American is a conservative,” Scott said in his remarks to murmurs of agreement from the crowd.

He again questioned what he described as the cynical use of race by the Left.

“They believe that by using the provocative racial history of our nation, that they can create a wedge in this nation that will bring more power and more resources to their progressive agenda. I stand here to tell you, ‘Not on my watch.’”

He stressed he wasn’t trying to “whitewash” American history, citing his grandfather’s experience growing up in the Deep South “where Jim Crow was alive and well.”

Yet, despite those obstacles, one thing never wavered, according to Scott: “My grandfather had faith in this nation.”

Winter-Time Iowa Heats Up

Scott’s recent events come as multiple candidates and prospective candidates visit the Hawkeye state, the first in Republicans’ caucus and primary calendar.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley spoke on Feb. 20 at Royal Flooring in Urbandale, outside Des Moines.

There, she described the Ukraine conflict as a “war for freedom” that “we have to win.”

Like Haley, Scott was introduced by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

While Iowa is still at the top of the Republican primary and caucus schedule, Democrats have rearranged their calendar to lead with South Carolina.

In her Feb. 22 speech, Reynolds claimed that Democrats’ decision to reorganize their caucus and primary schedule, breaking with 50 years of tradition, amounted to “Iowa Democrats conceding Iowa to protect President Biden.”

She described Scott as “a very good friend.”

Biotech founder and anti-ESG activist Vivek Ramaswamy is coming to Iowa from New Hampshire, where he kicked off a tour after announcing his 2024 presidential bid on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

Former President Trump, another 2024 candidate, hasn’t yet entered the fray in Iowa. He has, however, named his Iowa campaign team.

Ramaswamy will speak at a range of locations on Feb. 23, including the Iowa General Assembly in Des Moines and the Business Roundtable Listening Tour in Ankeny, north of Des Moines.

The Polk County Lincoln Dinner also included pre-recorded videos from Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other Republican politicians, including newly elected Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa).

Nunn’s message hinted at Scott’s potential activities in Iowa in the coming months, should he join the 2024 field.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird also spoke at the event, touting her actions against the Biden administration on issues including Waters of the United States (WOTUS)—a big concern for many of the state’s farmers.