Rick Scott wins tight GOP race for governor; Alex Sink wins Democratic nod (Florida)

[seafan]

Source: St. Petersburg Times

FORT LAUDERDALE — Rick Scott was on the verge of launching a one-man political revolution Tuesday night, leading Attorney General Bill McCollum in the Republican primary for governor.
With most precincts counted, Scott looked to be overcoming the might of the Republican establishment, the special interests who dominate the Capitol and a longtime politician determined to tar his character.

The Associated Press and New York Times called the race for Scott just before 11 p.m., after McCollum appeared before supporters saying he'd wait out returns overnight.

.....

But a Scott victory would truly be a shock to the state's political system. His victory would bear witness to his unprecedented use of personal wealth in a big-state election, and threatens to tear apart the fabric of the Republican Party, already reeling from the indictment of former party chairman Jim Greer and defection of a once-immensely popular governor, Charlie Crist.

On Election Day, Scott was on the radio bluntly criticizing John Thrasher, a state senator and state party chairman who is a McCollum supporter. With the level of invective so high in recent weeks, it won't be easy for Republicans to mend fences, and the general election is only 70 days away.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rick-scott-leads-tight-gop-race-for-governor-sink-wins-democratic-nod/1117236

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The Jeb Bush Machine ran off the cliff tonight.

[Dr.Phool]

1. Good. I've wanted to see that slimey McCollum put out to pasture for a long time.

And I want to see Alex Sink absolutely slaughter Scott in the General. She made a good move picking Rod Smith for a running mate. He can pull in a lot of votes statewide, especially in the Northern counties. I supported him in the 2006 primary against Jim Davis.

Sink is probably the only hope for Florida this year, as retaking the House or Senate are really long shots.

[JCMach1]

9. I still see his face as one of the slimey impeachment handlers... Good riddance

to bad rubbish...

Meanwhile, Sink will have a shot with moderate business-type Repugs and Indys who dislike Scott.

Over the last 30days, Scott was skewered by McCollum and Co. in the media!

[seafan]

2. 'Scott is the opponent Florida Democrats want in November.'

Scott also deftly and firmly planted a foothold on McCollum's right by aggressively supporting the Arizona law getting tough on illegal immigrants, and he relentlessly hammered McCollum as a "desperate career politician," a message that resonated at the polls Tuesday.

With the state party chairman often by McCollum's side, the longtime politician leveraged his relationships with the incoming House and Senate leaders, who dumped millions into a smear campaign that revolved around a record $1.7 billion Medicare fraud fine ultimately paid out by the Columbia/HCA hospital chain that Scott founded.

.....

Scott is the opponent Democrats want in November. The race for the Governor's Mansion has major national implications, with both parties eager to claim power heading into 2012, when all congressional and legislative district lines are redrawn and the next presidential election is held.

.....

Scott spent $40 million in an advertising arsenal the likes of which have never been seen before in Florida. McCollum battled back mightily with more than $14 million in hard-hitting ads financed by an array of businesses and special interests who make up the framework of the Republican establishment in Florida.

The race was largely a televised air war from start to finish, with Scott and McCollum pummeling each other across the airwaves. They never debated live on statewide television, and their battle created a civil war in the Republican Party between the insider, McCollum, and the outsider, Scott.

..... ---LINK

As distasteful as this man is, his victory over McCollum represents a lethal blow to the Jeb Bush/John Thrasher(RPOF Chairman)/Dean Cannon(incoming House leader)/Mike Haridopolos(incoming Senate leader)/Bill McCollum (Attorney General)/Marco Rubio establishment machine in Florida. Scott's mega-money was the one thing that the Bush Machine didn't count on and could not control.




From August 9, 2010:



(MyFox file photo) Jeb Bush with Bill McCollum

Yasmeen Neuman told FOX 13 McCollum is a strong enough candidate to stand on his own, but the support from Bush can't hurt.
"I think it's really going to help Bill. I really do. I think a lot of people have enormous respect for Jeb Bush. And so it's going to help him," she said.

McCollum and Bush met briefly with reporters and photographers. They answered questions about immigrations, gay rights, and opponent Rick Scott.

"Never, in my mind, did I imagine some guy stroking a 25, 30 million dollar check out of his own bank account to run a campaign," said Bush. ---LINK

Poor Jeb, never did he imagine that his days of influence would ever wane. He really is not all that "popular", you see.



The victory of Scott over McCollum has tonight landed a crippling blow to the hard-entrenched Bush Machine in Florida. If Sink wins in November, either Meek or Crist takes the Senate seat, and Dan Gelber takes Attorney General, it will decimate the Republican stranglehold in Florida. Factor in redistricting, and we just may break free from this deeply corrosive Republican-controlled era.


Florida, we just may emerge from this darkness yet.



Florida CFO and Gubernatorial Candidate Alex Sink talks to supporters during a Primary Election Night Victory Party at the Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk Hotel on Tuesday. (DANIEL WALLACE, Times)


We hope to call this woman our Governor in November.

[lib2DaBone]

3. Thanks for post. If Scott crushes the Jebster....

... maybe there is hope for this State.

It boggles the mind how Scott could spend $50 Million of his own money and not bat an eye.

Medicare Pays very...very...well...

[Dr.Phool]

4. Now, we've got to politically euthanize Jebby's water boy.

Marco Rubio.

[lunasun]

5. Yeah, but what if $cott win$?????

[rpannier]

6. He's already spent 25% of what he owns to get the primary victory

Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll have spent the rest

[JCMach1]

10. +McCollum just blew millions in anti-Scott adds...Scott is damaged goods already

[HankyDubs]

8. gee

I don't know anything about florida politcs...but Scott is a vampiric creep, a common theif and a murderer of grandmothers. Holy crap I sure hope this plays out as some of the Floridians here are saying.

[palotin]

7. Sink?

That is a rather unfortunate name.