In a possible tease of his pick for running mate, presidential candidate Donald Trump echoed a school choice sentiment Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has repeatedly hailed.
The former president called parental rights the “civil rights issue of our time” in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, a conviction that has formed the cornerstone of Scott’s political career.
During his unsuccessful run for the GOP’s presidential nomination, voters became familiar with Scott’s belief that education is the gateway to the American dream. The South Carolina senator based his political campaign around his life story, often recounting the power a good education had on lifting him out of generations of poverty.
After receiving a rousing endorsement from his onetime rival in January, Trump has repeatedly indicated Scott is on his short list for vice president.
Scott, Congressional School Choice Caucus co-chairman, said in January that “quality education” is the “greatest civil rights issue of our time.” He made the statement during a National School Choice Week rally.
Some polls show a growing number of African American voters are disenchanted with the Democratic Party and are migrating to Trump. As the only black Republican in the Senate, Scott might be a unique opportunity to expand for Trump to expand his base.
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Scott recently launched a new roundtable video series, bringing together a coalition of black Republican members of Congress who offer a conservative viewpoint on minority issues. The launch mirrors Republicans’ wider efforts to court African American voters away from the Democratic Party and win the 2024 election for the GOP.
In an appearance on Meet the Press at the beginning of May, Scott said he expected Trump to declare his pick for running mate by early July.
