Who cares if Sen. Tim Scott is married? Major GOP donors care about it, and this could be a problem for the campaign of the next presidential candidate.
Rich Republican Party contributors are pressuring Scott, according to reports, to reveal more information about his romantic life or lack thereof.
Two people who were present at the conversation say that top GOP donors are privately asking Sen. Tim Scott’s team to provide more information about his single status before they decide how much money to give him for the presidential race.
Why it matters: Many of the donors are in the market for a viable alternative to former President Trump — but still aren’t sure about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who’s running second to Trump in GOP polls. Scott, 57, is among those trying to woo such fundraisers.
In 139 years, the U.S. did not elect a single person president. Candidates often show off their families in an attempt to appeal to voters.
Sources who asked to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the matter said that Scott’s unwillingness to reveal much about his personal life has caused concern among conservative Republican donors.
A senior official from Scott’s campaign responded to the reporting by telling Axios that the South Carolina Senator will discuss the issue over the next few weeks.
Does Sen. Scott’s status as a bachelor matter when it comes to his presidential candidacy, or is this based on an outdated and largely irrelevant idea of what makes someone a viable candidate for the White House?
It may be more complex than it first appears. For 139 years, the United States electorate has not elected a president who is unmarried. Grover Cleveland was the last to be elected in 1884. He married his wife while serving as president. James Buchanan, who served as President before Cleveland but was not married, also served in office.
One could argue that Scott’s lack of a wife is an indication of instability. Some donors may be worried that the candidate’s position will turn off conservatives with more traditional values and jeopardize the chances of him winning the GOP nomination. It is understandable that donors would want to ensure that their candidate’s campaign will not be jeopardized by any issues.
On the other hand, some may argue that conservatives don’t care as much about these views. In a recent Bloomberg op-ed, author Kara Alaimo argued this point:
These concerns are unreasonable and irrational. It’s high time that American voters, who are becoming more single, stop judging politicians based on their marital status.
Americans today are more likely than ever to be single. In 2018, the marriage rates fell to their lowest level since 1867, when the federal government started keeping statistics. According to Census Bureau statistics, in 2022 the number of people who have never married will rise to 34%. This is up from 23% back in 1950. It would be statistically rare if any of the major presidential candidates were not single.
Scott has also been making significant inroads among evangelical Christians over the past few years. In Iowa, Scott heavily targeted this group in July with a new advertising campaign. In the past, the senator has claimed that being single could actually be a positive thing, as it gives him more time, energy, and latitude in his job.
It’s also worth noting that Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, managed to attract evangelical voters in spite of being twice married and not exactly faithful to both his ex-wives. This suggests that voters with a right-leaning may be willing to support someone who isn’t a typical conservative.
Scott’s love life shouldn’t be considered, as it won’t affect his ability to govern. It is more important to look at his vision and policy positions, as well as whether he has the ability to do the job he is seeking.
