(AP) --
COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina's new junior senator says he has always tried to keep his modest upbringing by a single mother in the front of his mind.
And while Congressman Tim Scott will soon make history as only the fourth black Republican U.S. senator in history, he says he has never heard race brought up on the campaign trail of his conservative district.
The 47-year-old was picked Monday by Gov. Nikki Haley to fill the seat held by Sen. Jim DeMint, who is leaving to lead The Heritage Foundation.
Scott describes himself as a one-time struggling student who learned the values of hard work and sacrifice from a local businessman who served as his mentor.
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