Recent presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has endorsed Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) as “by far the best choice” to succeed Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), a reflection of the initial support the Scott’s leadership candidacy is rising among prominent conservatives.
“Rick Scott is BY FAR the best choice among those running for Senate Republican leader,” Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the White House race earlier this year, said in a post on the social media site X. “He has successfully led a large company and a large state, there is no doubt he can do this job.
“He also has a very rare quality in DC: caring about what voters I really want. I support him,” he said.
Ramaswamy’s warm support comes as other Senate conservatives welcome Scott’s entry into the race.
“@SenRickScott’s entry into the Senate GOP leadership race – along with the plan he offered for how he would lead the Senate Republican Conference – is more than just a positive development. It’s a game changer,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on X.
Lee is hesitant to make an endorsement in the race now, but expressed satisfaction that Scott is committing to outlining “a positive, aspirational agenda” for the Senate GOP conference that would explain what Republican senators “stand for.”
“This is the first time since I have been in the Senate that a colleague running for a leadership position at the Republican Party conference has offered a distinct plan to inform us how he would lead the conference,” Lee posted.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), another prominent Senate conservative, echoed Lee’s enthusiasm for Scott’s leadership bid.
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said.
Scott announced his candidacy in a “Dear Colleague” letter distributed Wednesday afternoon, in which he pledged to give colleagues more time to review bills before bringing them up for a vote and promised never to pressure them into voting. in a way that goes against the way they campaigned or the interests of their constituents.
He also endorsed a six-month term limit for the next Senate Republican leader.
But Scott’s decision to challenge Senate Republican leader John Thune (SD) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is receiving early backlash from McConnell’s allies.
“If this guy gets 10 votes, they should dissolve the institution,” Josh Holmes, McConnell’s senior political adviser, posted on Scott’s leadership campaign X.
Thune said Thursday that Scott’s decision to enter the race isn’t a big surprise.
“He talked about it. Again, it’s an open race. Anyone who wants to compete has the right to compete. As we all know, it’s a small electorate, 49 people,” said the South Dakota senator. “We expect a few more after the next election. But we all have to go out and defend our constituents, who are our colleagues.”
Asked if Scott has any chance of winning, Thune responded: “I suppose everyone has a chance. I won’t hurt your chances.”
The news comes after McConnell announced in February his plan to step down from his leadership role at the end of his term.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
