Sen. Tim Scott announced Sunday (Nov. 12) that he is suspending his presidential campaign, which failed to meet high expectations that the South Carolina Republican would at least go deep into the primary season.

“I love America more today than I did on May 22, but when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Scott said during a live interview on Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America” with Trey Gowdy.

Scott launched his campaign on May 22 with tons of cash on hand – nearly $22 million. His supporters hoped he would emerge as the alternative to the party’s heavyweight, former President Donald Trump, who has maintained a lead in the polls of at least 50 percent over his rivals.

As of Nov. 10, Scott had barely over 2 percent of the vote.

Scott said, “I think the voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet, have been really clear that they're telling me, 'not now, Tim.' I don't think they're saying, Trey, 'no.' But I do think they're saying 'not now.' And so I'm gonna respect the voters and I'm gonna hold on and keep working really hard and look forward to another opportunity.”

The U.S. Senate’s only Black Republican campaigned on his personal story of growing up poor in a single-parent home and denying that racism is systemic. His calm demeanor attracted support, along with his promotion of patriotism, Christian values, and blaming progressives for the nation’s problems.

Scott barely qualified to appear on the third GOP debate stage Thursday (Nov. 9) with the four other candidates – Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy – chasing frontrunner Trump, who was not present at the event. At the debate, Scott was inconsequential, as most focus was on Haley and DeSantis, the leading Trump alternatives.

When asked, Scott declined to back any remaining candidates, saying, “The best way for me to be helpful is to not weigh in on who they should endorse.”

There’s some speculation that Scott is leaving the door open as Trump’s vice presidential running mate.

Haley, the former South Carolina governor who appointed Scott to the Senate in 2012, was a longtime ally of Scott. She has climbed in the polls as Scott’s campaign has sputtered.

In October, Charleston’s The Post and Courier newspaper endorsed Haley as the only candidate who could beat Trump and urged Scott and others to drop out of the race.

News of Scott’s suspended campaign prompted Haley to write, “Tim Scott is a good man of faith and an inspiration to so many. The Republican primary was made better by his participation in it. South Carolina is blessed to continue to have him as our senator.”

DeSantis posted this message: “Tim Scott is a strong conservative with bold ideas about how to get our country back on track. I respect his courage to run this campaign and thank him for his service to America and the U.S. Senate. I look forward to Tim continuing to be a leader in our party for years to come.”

According to The Associated Press, many donors were surprised and saddened by Scott suspending his campaign and are turning their attention to Haley.

“He stepped aside with dignity. He is a true patriot. I could not have been prouder to have supported him,” Eric Levine, a donor who raised funds for Scott, told The AP, adding that he will now support Haley.

“She is our last best hope to defeat Donald Trump and then take back the White House.”