Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina on Monday formally introduced he’s working for president in 2024, placing his sizeable marketing campaign war chest and optimistic message to the take a look at in a Republican primary race that has to date been former President Donald Trump‘s to lose.

Scott, the Senate’s solely Black Republican, in an announcement speech in North Charleston balanced his religion and his household’s story with assaults on Democratic President Joe Biden‘s report.

“I’m residing proof that America is the land of alternative, not a land of oppression,” Scott stated in ready remarks.

“Joe Biden and the unconventional left are attacking each rung of the ladder that helped me climb,” he stated, “and that’s the reason I’m saying in the present day that I’m working for President of the United States of America!”

Scott, 57, faces an uphill battle: Polls of the potential primary field present him trailing many different presidential contenders, together with fellow South Carolina Republican Nikki Haley, who entered the race in February. Trump has simply led the pack since launching his marketing campaign final 12 months, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis persistently rating as the highest different.

But Scott enters the race with a couple of key weapons in his political arsenal.

Scott is well-liked amongst his friends, and he’s poised to leap within the race on a springboard of high-profile endorsements. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., final week delivered the primary non-Trump endorsement of the 2024 cycle when he backed Scott’s impending run. Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican and the opposite senator from South Dakota, can also be endorsing Scott, NBC News and different retailers reported Sunday.

“Tim Scott is the actual deal, and he’ll make an awesome president of the usa,” Thune informed the group in North Charleston earlier than Scott took the stage.

“I do not learn about you, however I feel our nation is able to be impressed once more.”

Scott additionally holds a monetary benefit over a lot of his opponents: His campaign-in-waiting had practically $22 million in money available on the finish of March. The senator is already placing that that cash to make use of with a $6 million advert purchase for TV and radio spots in Iowa and New Hampshire. Those adverts are set to start out airing Wednesday, coinciding with Scott’s journey to these two states for his first main journey as a declared presidential candidate.

Scott’s political presence and messaging, which champions themes of unity and optimism, additionally stands in stark distinction to the strident and polarizing rhetorical method being practiced by a lot of the remainder of the Republican field. The first GOP primary debate is slated for August.

“Our celebration and our nation are standing at a time for selecting,” Scott informed the group. “Victimhood or victory? Grievance or greatness? I select freedom and hope and alternative.”

As he closed out his speech, Scott departed from his ready remarks and walked into the group. “This cannot be one other presidential marketing campaign. We haven’t got time for that. We want a president who persuades not simply our pals and our base.”

“We must have a compassion for individuals who do not agree with us,” he added.

The long-expected marketing campaign kickoff got here three days after Scott filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission designating a principal committee for a presidential bid. He had launched an exploratory committee for a White House bid final month and has made frequent journeys to key primary states.

DeSantis is predicted to declare his candidacy later this week. Trump has handled the Florida governor as his high primary rival, just about ignoring the remainder of the GOP field as he pummels his former ally with assaults.

That tactic could also be paying off within the quick time period, as current polls present DeSantis sliding whereas Trump widens his lead. But the primary stays in its early levels, with extra opponents, together with former Vice President Mike Pence, anticipated to affix within the coming weeks.

Trump additionally faces a number of main authorized points. The former president pleaded not guilty final month to fees that he falsified enterprise information in relation to hush cash funds made earlier than the 2016 election, a combat that’s simply starting to unfold. He additionally faces vital further publicity from an election interference probe by the Fulton County district lawyer and federal particular counsel investigations, amongst different threats.

In a touch at how Trump perceived Scott’s potential menace to his candidacy, the previous president took the senator’s presidential announcement as one more alternative to assault DeSantis.

“Tim is a giant step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is completely unelectable,” Trump wrote in a social media put up earlier Monday.

“Good luck Tim!” Trump added.