CNN — South Carolinians Nikki Haley and Tim Scott, along with other presidential candidates, will speak at a Christian conservative forum on Saturday and present their vision for 2024 with an eye on the White House, aiming to open their case to a crucial voting bloc early on. voting status Hosted by the Palmetto Family Council, the forum is an opportunity for speakers to share their views on issues and engage with conservative voters. But even as former Palmetto State governor Haley and junior U.S. senator Scott try to win over their South Carolina friends, the two Republicans who have so far dominated the race are significantly missing former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis. Haley, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, has become the first Republican to challenge her former boss for the GOP presidential nomination. He launched his campaign in Charleston last month, calling for a new generation of leadership, and recently speaking to a packed crowd in Myrtle Beach. He sought to differentiate himself with his foreign policy experience and focused his campaign on calls for congressional term limits, stronger border security, fiscal responsibility, and increased domestic power generation. As for Scott, this forum is the latest sign that the Republican senator is testing the waters of the 2024 race. As Scott evades questions about whether he plans to run for president, he lays the groundwork for a campaign by traveling to Iowa and South Carolina, states where voting on the Faith in America "listening tour" is key. According to a familiar source, on Saturday, Scott is expected to deliver a speech addressing several topics in the roughly 25 minutes allotted to him. The Republican senator will talk about his faith, the role this has played in shaping him as an elected official, how he sees the country's course, including harsh criticism of President Joe Biden's agenda, but he will end with a penance and a message of "better days ahead." source told CNN. According to Justin Hall, communications director for the Palmetto Family Council, speakers are allowed to use their time as they please – either giving a speech, taking questions from the audience, or a combination of both. Haley and Scott are longtime friends and political allies. In 2012, Haley appointed Scott to the vacant seat left by Senator Jim DeMint, saying that Scott "won the seat" from his personality and track record. But according to The Post and Courier, after Haley announced her bid for the presidency, Scott refused to endorse him as a sign that he might seek the presidency himself. Both had attended the anti-tax group Club for Growth's fundraiser retreat in Palm Beach with other potential GOP candidates earlier this month. GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who weighed in on the presidential candidacy, will also speak at the forum. Former Vice President Mike Pence, another possible 2024 candidate, has been invited, but is speaking at a foreign policy panel in Iowa the same day. Other potential candidates invited but not planning to attend include former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, and South Dakota Governor Kirsti Noem. Most of the conversations in early 2024 revolve around Trump and DeSantis, who have yet to be declared candidates. Both were invited to the Palmetto Family Council forum, but neither is expected to attend, according to Hall. Trump and DeSantis led a recent CNN poll of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents on who they are most likely to support for the 2024 Republican nomination. Haley trailed the two with 6%, while Scott remained at 2%. South Carolina was key to Trump's political rise in 2016. There he won the Republican primary, solidifying his status as a leader in a crowded Republic field. Trump made the state one of his first stops in January, joining the election campaign for the first time since announcing his reelection bid. But Trump's legal troubles continue to loom large on the campaign trail. The former president said on Saturday he expected to be arrested next week in connection with the investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney, but claimed he would not withdraw from the race if he was charged. Meanwhile, DeSantis plans to wait for the Florida legislature to decide whether to run for president. The national book tour has stopped in Iowa and Nevada, but has yet to visit South Carolina. The Forum comes down a little less than a year after the all-important South Carolina GOP primary. Republican voters in the state have chosen the eventual Republican candidate in nearly every cycle since 1980, with the exception of 2012. "We believe the road to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue runs directly through Palmetto State," Hall told CNN, adding that the forum "could certainly accelerate the campaign move in South Carolina." This story was updated with additional information on Saturday. Gotopnews.com