Scott raises $1M in 24 hours ahead of second GOP debate

Republican presidential contender Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) raised $1 million in the past 24 hours between events in New York City and Charleston, a Scott official told The Hill. 

The fundraising numbers come less than a week before the second GOP debate in Simi Valley, Calif. — seen as a critical opportunity for the Republican presidential contenders to cast themselves as the alternative contender to former President Trump, the frontrunner in primary. 

Trump is skipping the second debate to speak in front of current and former union workers in Detroit during the same time, putting himself at the center of a major autoworkers strike. 

“Tim looks forward to being back on the debate stage to draw the serious policy distinctions between the candidates,” Scott campaign spokesman Matt Gorman told The Hill in a statement. 

“Whether it be the economy, parental rights, or his vision for the country, Tim is prepared to have a conversation with voters, be the adult in the room, and demonstrate why he is the strongest candidate to beat Joe Biden,” he added. 

The fundraising numbers suggest a possible boost for the South Carolina Republican, who’s been trailing several of his fellow contenders in national polls. He’s performed better in polling coming out of Iowa, however, which is seen as a make-or-break state for many of the candidates. 

But all of the contenders have been unable to topple Trump in polling. Though strategists say there’s still plenty of time before the Iowa caucuses in January, it’s left open the question of how quickly the field will narrow before then.