Rob Long · December 6, 2012 at 6:43pm

...could very well be Tim Scott, Congressman from South Carolina's 1st District, which runs up the coast from just south of Charleston all the way up to the border of North Carolina.

Although it's up to Governor Nikki Haley to make the appointment, Scott is Jim DeMint's choice, apparently. From The Hill:

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has made it known in South Carolina that he wants Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to replace him in the Senate, two state Republican sources tell The Hill.

The sources, requesting anonymity to speak candidly, say Scott is DeMint's preference for the seat, though the final decision will be Gov. Nikki Haley's (R). She will appoint someone to serve out the rest of DeMint's term after he officially resigns from the Senate to take over the conservative Heritage Foundation in January. An election for the seat will then be held in 2014 for the remaining two years of the term.

And Tim Scott is a pretty solid conservative. From WaPo:

Scott has a down-the-line conservative record that few in the party would balk at. The Club for Growth likes him, and the tea party likes him. In addition, he’s a member of the House leadership and thus has ties to the establishment wing of the party.

“Tim Scott has an excellent record on our issues, but right now we’re not even thinking about who the replacement will be,” Club for Growth spokesman Barney Keller told The Fix.

Oh, and one other thing.  Here's a photo of Congressman Tim Scott:

imgres

Which means Nikki Haley has a chance to do something historic: Scott would be the first African-American Republican in the Senate since Reconstruction. And he's be the only African-American in there now.  

And he's a conservative.

Comments:


ConservativeWanderer
Joined
Jun '12
ConservativeWanderer

If DeMint likes him, that's a very good recommendation.


Joined
Sep '12
jarhead

It's interesting that DeMint would choose Scott over Trey Gowdy, who holds DeMint's old congressional seat.  Both have good records, and are both finishing their freshman term in the House.

Jim Skaggs
Joined
Jan '11
Jim Skaggs

"The first African-American in the Senate since Reconstruction." You're forgetting Edward Brooke of Massachusetts [who was no conservative]. Brooke served in the Senate from 1967-1979.

Howellis
Joined
Apr '12
Howellis

Rob Long: ..

Which means Nikki Haley has a chance to do something historic: Scott would be the first African-American Republican in the Senate since Reconstruction. 

Are you forgetting Edward Brooke?

Terry
Joined
Jun '11
Terry

DeMint and Mick Mulvaney are very close as well.  I'm suspicious of this report of Jim openly supporting one of the three: Scott, Mulvaney, and Gowdy. 

By the way, Tim Scott's congressional district no longer runs all the way up to the NC border.  The state added a 7th district with this election and it is in the northeast corner - Myrtle Beach and south through Georgetown County.  The seat was won by a Republican and so the new delegation will be 6 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

Edited on December 6, 2012 at 7:07pm
Rob Long

I did forget Brooke.  My bad.

Mark Belling Fan
Joined
Sep '10
Mark Belling Fan

Is it safe to say that he is "clean and articulate"?

Crow's Nest
Joined
Mar '11
Crow's Nest
Mark Belling Fan: Is it safe to say that he is "clean and articulate"? · 11 minutes ago

And, has David Brooks had the chance to see whether he passes the pants-crease test?

ConservativeWanderer
Joined
Jun '12
ConservativeWanderer

Crow's Nest

Mark Belling Fan: Is it safe to say that he is "clean and articulate"? · 11 minutes ago

And, has David Brooks had the chance to see whether he passes the pants-crease test? · 0 minutes ago

And does he send tingles down Chris Matthews' leg?

show PJS's comment (#10)
PJS
Joined
May '10
PJS

And he will be on the podcast when?


Joined
Jan '12
FunJohnny

First African American from the South since Reconstruction

Douglas
Joined
Mar '11
Douglas

UNCLE TOM

Sorry, I just wanted to get that in before the Liberals. 

ConservativeWanderer
Joined
Jun '12
ConservativeWanderer

Douglas: UNCLE TOM

Sorry, I just wanted to get that in before the Liberals.  · 1 minute ago

You forgot Oreo.

Terry
Joined
Jun '11
Terry

Matt Hoskins, Sen. DeMint's longtime aide has addressed the rumor that the Senator is pushing Tim Scott.  He said, "Sen. DeMint does not have a favorite in terms of who replaces him. Anyone who says differently doesn't know what they're talking about."

My guess is that certain people who favor Rep. Scott have tried to box the governor in by making it seem that DeMint favors Scott.  The handling of the SCDOR scandal has lowered Gov. Haley's approval numbers in the state and some may feel she can be bullied right now.

To DeMint's credit his staff has addressed this quickly.  I'm not against Tim Scott being our next Senator, but I have been suspicious about Jim telling anybody that he favors Tim over Mick Mulvaney or Trey Gowdy.

Matthew Gilley
Joined
May '10
Matthew Gilley

To give a bit of local flavor, Scott would provide some intrastate balance since the Lowcountry hasn't produced a Senator since Fritz Hollings. Gowdy and Mulvaney are both Upstate guys like Lindsey Graham. South Carolina does have an embarrassment of riches at the moment with folks like these three.

BrentB67
Joined
May '12
BrentB67

Cong. Scott is a true conservative with strong fiscal discipline. Great choice if Gov. Haley appoints him.


Joined
Aug '12
Franciscus

true conservative, check. Articulate, check. I'm sold.Oh, and dare I say Nikki Halley is awesome, I'm confident she will listen to Sen. DeMint and replace him with a good articulate conservative.


Joined
Aug '12
Franciscus

Oh, and by conservative, I mean champion of liberty. I'm still upset the progressives (aka statist) stole the vernacular.F


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