HE'S IN THE MONEY:  We mentioned yesterday, after Senator Tim Scott announced his candidacy for president, that he may be one of the few candidates who can truly break through on the Republican side.  That notion is not original with me, but I have to say that it has some logic behind it, and one aspect of that logic involves money, and who can raise it.  From Fox: 

Republican presidential candidate Tim Scott is living up to his reputation as a prolific fundraiser.

The senator from South Carolina hauled in $2 million in fundraising roughly 24 hours after launching his 2024 presidential campaign, Fox News confirmed on Tuesday evening.
On Monday Scott, a rising star in the GOP and the only Black Republican in the Senate, became the latest contender to officially jump into the burgeoning race for his party's presidential nomination. The senator formally declared his candidacy at Charleston Southern University - his alma mater - in his hometown of North Charleston, South Carolina.

And...

Pointing to the one-day fundraising haul, Scott campaign communications director Nathan Brand told Fox News that "the outpouring of support from Republicans across the country following Tim Scott’s major announcement shows Americans are ready for an optimistic message grounded in conservative principles."

Scott is known as one of the top fundraisers on Capitol Hill. He brought in over $41 million last cycle as he cruised to re-election in the Senate. His haul was the second most of any Republican senator running for re-election in the 2022 cycle.

The senator carried much of those funds over to the 2024 cycle. He had roughly $22 million in his campaign coffers at the end of March, which is being transferred to his presidential campaign. Scott's cash-on-hand will give him a leg up over many of his rivals for the GOP nomination, other than former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Scott campaigns Wednesday and Thursday in Iowa and New Hampshire, the two states that kick off the GOP presidential nominating calendar. But, before he headed out, Scott huddled Tuesday in his home state with his finance team and top donors and bundlers.

Michael "Mikee" Johnson, a South Carolina-based business leader and CEO of U.S. Brick who's serving as Scott’s national finance co-chair, told Fox News earlier on Tuesday that "we have had a great morning! Amazing people coming and going, both in-person and virtually."

Scott's already spending his campaign cash. The senator on Tuesday starting running ads on TV in Iowa and New Hampshire, which are the first spots in a $6 million ad blitz into the summer.

COMMENT:   You know the old saying that "money is the mother's milk of politics."  It's true.  Scott is off to a strong start, and his ability to raise cash will attract the attention of the power players.  The Republican race is getting interesting.  Rule nothing out.

May 24, 2023