Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Monday officially filed to be on the South Carolina ballot for February’s GOP primary.
Ramaswamy made two campaign stops in South Carolina Monday, first at Winthrop University in Rock Hill and later at Wofford College in Spartanburg.
During his visit to Rock Hill, Ramaswamy stuck to his platform, categorized by hard swings at what he sees as corruption in U.S. politics and the encroachment of a fringe left. He called out hypocrisy among corporations and lawmakers who publicly embrace messages about equity and climate woes while doing business with China – whom Ramaswamy framed as the main entity the United States needs to break away from.
“We have to declare economic independence from our enemy,” he said, referring to China, a major U.S. trade partner.
The crowd that showed up to see Ramaswamy at Winthrop – 200-plus – was notably smaller than crowds that have turned out for other Republican candidates who’ve made campaign stops in South Carolina heading into the 2024 primary. The comparative turnout echoes current polls, including last week’s Winthrop Poll, which have Ramaswamy trailing behind almost every candidate in the primary. In South Carolina, Winthrop found, Ramaswamy has 5.1% voter support – effectively tied with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and double-digit points behind former South Carolina Gov. and former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley. All in the field trail frontrunner, former President Donald Trump.
Voters who attended Ramaswamy’s stopover in Rock Hill Monday, however, did respond well to his platform. Darren Ritzer, a conservative voter, said he appreciates the Ohio businessman’s stance on economic pragmatism.
“My approach to conservatism is less ideological and more practical,” Ritzer said. “I’m for small government, local control of taxes. That’s, at least in the economic sphere, where Vivek is.”
