It has appeared in recent weeks that U.S. Senator Tim Scott is gearing up for a presidential run, culminating in a story that broke yesterday suggesting Scott would be making an announcement sometime this week.

We’ve seen the signs that Scott is prepping for a run, including planning events in early primary states and assembling his donors. As of yesterday, multiple sources were leaking that Scott could be announcing as early as this week, and my colleague Bonchie questioned whether or not it would be wise for Scott to jump into the race when he’s not really polling anywhere high enough to warrant it.

But, it appears that, at the very least, Scott is not listening to any of his critics. As of this morning, he has announced an exploratory committee for a presidential run, taking a key next step into the race.

I will never back down in defense of the conservative values that make America exceptional.

That's why I'm announcing my exploratory committee for President of the United States.

This fight is personal.

I want every American to have the same opportunities I had. pic.twitter.com/HV56pbyKdB

— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) April 12, 2023

Scott has allies, particularly in the Senate, who are working to give him a shot. He’s well-liked and former Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado is also heading up a PAC that seems to be Scott-aligned.

“It would be a mistake by anyone to think that this is a two-person race,” Gardner previously told POLITICO. “Should Sen. Scott get in, I think the doors will open wide.”

That PAC is “Opportunity Matters Fund Action,” and it looks like it will be a source of support for Scott in the coming election cycle if this exploratory committee turns into a campaign.

In his write-up of the Scott campaign yesterday, Bonchie mentioned that the South Carolina senator has been out-of-step with the conservative base on a few issues, including his support of Lisa Murkowski’s re-election efforts. While true, and definitely a flaw, Scott’s appeal may well come from the fact that he doesn’t otherwise rock the boat. He’s fairly consistently principled and generally personally liked by both sides.

He does have a near-impossible path to the White House, and the fact that he’s not an overly-outspoken fighter won’t get him any extra spotlights. But he is a calming force who is approaching the race from outside the scope of the Trump-centric battle going on in the race right now.

Trump is focused on his legal battles (as well as Ron DeSantis). Nikki Haley is commenting on Trump’s “drama.” DeSantis is focused on differentiating himself from Trump by highlighting his ability to win. Mike Pence is prepared to testify about the latter days of the Trump administration.

Scott is involved with none of that, and that may ultimately be his best path forward.

His campaign will be focused on his story and the promise of the American dream for all, and he’ll likely be a breath of fresh air for moderate and independent voters looking for a break from the drama. Will that be enough to take the lead? As of right now, it’s doubtful. But that doesn’t mean voter exhaustion won’t give him a bigger boost later. It’s just tough to visualize.

Regardless, Scott is a good guy, by all accounts, and it wouldn’t be the worst thing to see him working in the executive branch in the future.