Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) will formally endorse former President Trump on Friday night, a move that comes after a concerted lobbying effort and ahead of next week’s New Hampshire primary.
Two sources familiar said Scott will endorse Trump at a rally in the Granite State. A spokesperson for the Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Scott ended his presidential bid in November and has since been prodded by Trump’s team to back the favorite’s campaign.
One source noted Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley were angling for Scott’s backing in recent days as Trump tries to put the primary contest to bed and Haley, who appointed Scott to the Senate in 2013 as South Carolina governor, fights for political survival.
Trump leads Haley by a double-digit margin in New Hampshire, according to a series of polls taken in the past week.
The move also harms Haley in her home state of South Carolina, where voters will head to the polls on Feb. 24. The Palmetto State is crucial to Haley’s slim hopes of winning the Republican nomination.
Scott ended his campaign two months ago after his optimistic message failed to break through with GOP primary voters, especially in early-voting states.
He routinely declined to be critical of the former president throughout his campaign, having indicated his support for Trump before Scott decided to run for the White House.
Updated at 12:53 p.m.