It is good and prudent that Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is dropping out of the Republican presidential race, but it’s a real shame he failed. The South Carolina senator failed not only to poll well or to raise funds, but he also failed to make a strong case for his candidacy — because he failed to take on the front-runner, former President Donald Trump.

Scott’s failure to challenge Trump is especially lamentable because Scott’s vision of conservatism and the Republican Party is the most important rejoinder to Trumpism. Scott articulated this vision in some of his last words as a candidate: his closing remarks in the latest GOP debate.