Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., made one of his first speeches since launching a presidential campaign exploratory committee at the Heritage Foundation 50th anniversary leadership summit. He focused on his life story, his policy priorities and what he called a “blueprint to ruin America.”

Scott announced his exploratory committee April 12, 2023. It allows him to raise money for a possible campaign and travel around the country to test the waters without officially declaring his candidacy.

A Morning Consult Survey found Scott is far behind 2024 GOP primary front-runners, former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. According to the survey, Scott had support from 2% of the GOP electorate, which also put him behind former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

During his speech, Sen. Scott talked a lot about the challenges he overcame to become a United States senator. His grandfather left school in the third grade to pick cotton, his family lived in poverty, and Scott, his mother and brother slept in the same bedroom in a 700-square-foot apartment for years.

He said his mother taught him that faith and hard work are the keys to success, and he used that story to criticize the political Left.

“Every rung of the ladder I held on to in order to climb out of my very challenging situation, it seems like today, the radical Left and Joe Biden are literally attacking the ladder to success I used to climb,” Scott said.

Scott explained what he calls the blueprint to ruin America. He said that includes canceling the Founding Fathers, having open borders and focusing on racial inequality rather than opportunity.

“If you wanted to create the blueprint to ruin America, you would make sure that the concept of dependency is etched into the hearts of people starving for hope,” Scott said.

Sen. Scott said his priorities include strengthening border security, pushing back against China’s global expansion, and improving job and education opportunities for people who don’t want a four-year degree.

“If we’re going to have a day where we have a new American sunrise, it starts with restoring confidence in who we are as Americans. That means patriotism has to has to be back on the ballot. We have to have a serious conversation why we are the country that should be celebrated,” Scott said.

The Heritage Foundation is a conservative policy organization based in Washington, D.C. The 50th anniversary celebration will also feature a speech from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis who has been on a book tour which is widely expected to be a launch pad for a presidential run.