South Carolina Sen. Scott launches 2024 Republican presidential campaign

Sen. Tim Scott on Monday launched his 2024 Republican presidential campaign as he enters an increasingly filled GOP primary field.

Scott, a South Carolina Republican, formally kicked off his campaign Monday at Charleston Southern University, his alma mater, after he filed the Federal Election Commission paperwork on Friday to run in the 2024 presidential election.

Biden and the radical left are "attacking our American values, our schools, our economy and our security," Scott said in his first campaign event. "But not on my watch!"

Shortly thereafter, Scott's microphone cut out. The hiccup did not harm his roughly 45-minute speech, as the senator switched microphones and continued talking.

"Let's go. Let's go," he chanted at the end.

Taking aim at former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign ad calling the United States a "nation in decline," Scott said: "Our nation is not a nation in decline. But under Joe Biden, we have become a nation in retreat."

Scott is expected to spend Tuesday in Charleston with donors before campaigning for two days in Iowa and New Hampshire, according to The Associated Press.

Five other major candidates have entered the GOP primary, including former President Donald Trump, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and radio host Larry Elder. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is reportedly expected to launch his 2024 campaign this week. 

So far, Trump is far ahead of all other GOP candidates, with more than 60% support, while DeSantis is coming in second at 18%, according to a Morning Consult poll last week.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.