AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
- Sen. Tim Scott's presidential campaign, once seen as emerging force, has faltered in recent weeks.
- Scott has sought to offer an optimistic message to voters, but Trump remains on top in the GOP race.
- The rise of fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley has also complicated Scott's path to the nomination.
When Sen. Tim Scott launched his presidential campaign in May, he sought to project a positive conservative message among a field of candidates angling to take on former President Donald Trump in the GOP primary.