Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) addressed a crowd gathered Monday at a South Carolina Tea Party conference and resolutely concluded that "the greatest minority under assault today are Christians. No doubt about it."
Speaking between appearances by GOP presidential candidates, including former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Scott also weighed in on the 2012 race, saying that any of the remaining hopefuls would be better than President Barack Obama.
"The only thing we really have on our minds is beating Barack Obama in 2012," Scott said, according the Patch.com. "I don't care if it's Santorum or Gingrich or Romney, as long as we put someone in the White House who is currently not in the White House."
Though Scott has yet to announce his support for a particular candidate, his comments about supposed anti-Christian sentiment in the United States would appear to put him in some agreement with Gingrich.
Campaigning in South Carolina last week, Gingrich took a shot at the media for allegedly ignoring "anti-Christian" bigotry.
"The bigotry question goes both ways, and there's a lot more anti-Christian bigotry today than there is concerning the other side," Gingrich said during a discussion about gay rights, "and none of it gets covered by the news media."
Scott's position as a strong Tea Party voice and fresh face in the GOP has helped make his endorsement vital for presidential hopefuls campaigning in the Palmetto State. GQ's Marin Cogan reported this weekend on the congressman's busy schedule with regards to his state's upcoming primary:
When he's not on television or participating in candidate forums, the congressman is having long talks with friends, advisors and colleagues about whether or not to endorse in the GOP primary. "I am starting the process of elimination. I am closer to the decision, but I have not come to the decision yet," he said.
And with the latest news that Tea Party favorite and conservative kingmaker Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) won't make an endorsement in the GOP primary, Scott's selection would likely carry even more weight.