Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott officially announced Monday that he is running for president in 2024.

Scott, who has been visiting early primary states over the past few months via his Faith in America tour, launched an exploratory committee last month and announced a $6 million ad buy ahead of his imminent presidential bid. In his hometown of North Charleston, the senator criticized President Joe Biden on education, the economy and national security, and promised to strengthen American values.

“Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking every rung of the ladder that helped me climb,” Scott said. “And that is why I am announcing today that I am running for President of the United States of America!”

Scott promised in his speech to tackle the border crisis, stand up to the Chinese Communist Party, bolster an able-bodied workforce, defend law enforcement and promote parental rights in education. The senator also touched on his life experience and insisted that he’s “living proof” America isn’t a racist country.

“I have lived the American dream. I have held the truth, the inalienable truth, that all men and women are created equal! And endowed by our Creator with the right to be free!,” said Scott. “Our party and our nation are standing at a time for choosing. Victimhood or victory? Grievance or greatness? I choose freedom and hope and opportunity.”

Scott’s exploratory committee allowed him to fundraise ahead of an official presidential launch; the senator enters the GOP primary field with $22 million cash on hand, a senior Scott official previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The senator made an initial $5.5 million TV ad investment that will air Wednesday on cable, satellite and radio as he heads to Iowa and New Hampshire toward the end of the week. The ad will be broadcast in the two key early primary states through the first Republican primary debate in August, and Scott’s proponents will soon fund a seven figure digital ad campaign, as well.

The Real Clear Politics (RCP) average for a 2024 national Republican primary, based on polls conducted between April 21 and May 18, indicates that Scott has 1.8% support. (RELATED: ‘Great Statement’: Elon Musk Praises Tim Scott Ad About ‘Individual Responsibility’)

Scott has served South Carolina on Charleston’s City Council, in the state’s House of Representatives, in the U.S. Congress and has been in the Senate since 2013.

The senator joins a growing GOP primary field with former colleague and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and conservative radio personality Larry Elder; Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence are expected to soon enter the race, as well.

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