South Carolina’s congressional delegation has kept a low profile on the election front since Donald Trump became the de facto Republican nominee for president on Wednesday.
Among the D.C. representatives of a deeply Republican state that handed the businessman a resounding primary win in February, there was no acknowledgment on social media that their party had for all intents decided on a presidential candidate, no statements of support.
When pushed, they gave tepid answers in unison.
32.5% Percent of the vote that Donald Trump won in the South Carolina Republican primary in February.
The offices of Rep. Trey Gowdy, who had endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and Rep. Jeff Duncan, who had endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, said they would “support the Republican nominee.” Neither actually named Trump.
Gov. Nikki Haley said the same thing on Wednesday, and added that she is “not interested” in being considered for the vice president slot. She didn’t name Trump either.
Sen. Tim Scott’s campaign spokeswoman, Margaret Spaulding, issued a statement to McClatchy on his behalf, saying, “As (Scott) has consistently said over the past year, he will support the Republican nominee.”
She added, “Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, the Senator will do what he can to assist his campaign; however, his focus will remain on his own reelection and serving the people of South Carolina.”
Now that Donald Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee, the Senator will do what he can to assist his campaign; however, his focus will remain on his own reelection and serving the people of South Carolina.
Margaret Spaulding, spokeswoman for Tim Scott campaign
Just a few hours before Texas Sen. Ted Cruz suspended his campaign late Tuesday, taking with it any hopes of stopping Trump’s nomination, Sen. Lindsey Graham was tweeting that Trump was “completely unhinged.”
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it,” he tweeted.
Cruz dropped his presidential bid after a devastating loss to Trump in Indiana’s Republican primary, and a day later Ohio Gov. John Kasich followed, leaving Trump the only remaining candidate from a field of 17.