Fundamentally, Scott is counting on his faith in the endurance of the American dream to be contagious. In his campaign announcement, he started by saying “I’m proud to be an American.” Then he asked the crowd several times, with increasing volume and fervor, whether they were proud to be Americans. He identified “the miracle of America” with someone who “loves unconditionally,” is “tough as nails,” and “puts it all on the line.”

I think Scott is one of the more talented politicians in a given room. His race absolutely matters to his candidacy. Conservative voters have tended to give at least some serious consideration to every past black candidate for the Republican nomination. Alan Keyes made it to the final three with John McCain and George W. Bush in 2000. Herman Cain and Ben Carson both got good rides. Tim Scott will be an African-American Republican candidate with the most serious political résumé since Frederick Douglass offered himself for consideration. Black leaders and Republicans tend to bond through America’s particularly “churchly” tradition of political oration. Scott is preaching revival.

[Dougherty thinks Scott will need “another gear” to succeed in this effort. That may be true of every candidate after their initial launch anyway, but Scott has some solid experience on which to grow. I expect him to stick to these themes and improve upon them as he gets more reps and more attention. And as I wrote earlier, Republicans will likely respond immediately to his optimism and his “revival” themes, in both the religious and secular senses. — Ed]