Millionaire Astroturfer Stirring Up Florida Governor's Race

[Dr.Phool]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Millionaire Astroturfer Stirring Up Florida Governor's Race
Evan McMorris-Santoro | May 10, 2010, 1:02PM


The Senate race isn't the only GOP war going on in Florida. Surprise late-entry gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott -- the former CEO of the the Columbia hospital system and a leading astroturfer during the health care town halls in 2009 -- is threatening to dismantle Republican party plans to replace Gov. Charlie Crist (I) with state Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Scott, a millionaire several hundred times over, jumped into GOP primary on April 13, after months of a campaign that already moved onto the general, with likely GOP nominee McCollum facing off against likely Democratic nominee and state CFO Alex Sink. But a new poll released over the weekend shows Scott has succeeded in forcing McCollum into an unexpected and costly primary fight.

Like so many Republicans these days, Scott is running as an outsider. It's his deep pockets and connection to the conservative anti-health care reform movement from the August 2009 town halls that could be causing Florida Republicans to rethink a race they already thought was over. Now they're left pondering if their nominee for governor might end up being a disgraced hospital executive who says he killed the public option.

It wasn't supposed to be like this. McCollum all but cleared the GOP field last May, kicking off a long general election fight that has already seen him engage with Sink.

Scott threw a wrench into those plans with a $4.3 million ad get to know me ad campaign Scott launched after he announced his candidacy. Scott's already spent more on the ads than McCollum has raised in the whole campaign -- and he shows no sign of cutting off the cash spigot before the August primary.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/05/millionaire-astroturfer-stirring-up-florida-governors-race.php?ref=fpa

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Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. McCollum is one of the pricks who was part of the House Management Team during Clintons impeachment. Now he's being attacked by his very own teabaggers.

And, I want to see a nasty primary fight over the $60,000+ McCollum paid George "My bags are too heavy" Rekers for his expert testimony (which was thrown out)against allowing gays to adopt.

And this should help Alex Sink in November.

[Dappleganger]

1. Good info on Rick Scott on this blog

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/abel-harding/2010-04-13/rick-scott-launches-gubernatorial-bid

Make sure you read all the links.

"Outsider"?? Hardly. He's a RW snake in the grass with his anti-gov't health care agenda. This guy is just a big CEO waiting to make more money on the backs of taxpayers.

[onethatcares]

2. I could see that in his eyes during his commercial this a.m.

he wants to use his business sense to bring jobs and prosperity to Florida. Which means, I'll cut waste by doing away with any type of social services, if you want it, you have to pay for it. If you want to work, you'll work for the wages we'll pay, not what your worth. Want to go to the beach, pay for walking on the sand cause my buds now own it. Plus he won't leave out developing anything that has a dry spot on it sometimes, without review or permitting.

I don't trust him at all.

[Dr.Phool]

3. I just wish we had a better candidate.

I know Alex Sink, and I like her. She's a very nice person. But, she just doesn't perform that well in public.

[lib2DaBone]

4. Rick Scott is one Obnoxious bald-headed ( fill in blank)

He is on TV 24/7.. spewing his Jeebus-Based hatred and Neocon talking points....


Ernest Angley with toupe


Rick Scott without toupe

[retread]

5. Another picture of Scott, this time watching a "patient" being admitted to one of his hospitals.

[KamaAina]

6. If he keeps this up, he could actually make Meg Whitman look good

:eyes: