Republican Rick Scott seemed to push the right buttons Thursday, appearing before about 300 Sarasota County GOP activists, calling for tougher immigration laws, a smaller state government and turning Florida into a hub of job creation.
Scott, powered by a new poll that shows him widening his lead in the Republican governors primary over Bill McCollum, also promised the crowd he would maintain his outsider image.
Ill never be owned by special interests, said Scott, who has spent more than $21 million of his own money on his campaign and sprang Thursday for the gatherings pie and coffee.
But it was his support for an Arizona-style immigration law, a centerpiece of his campaign, that most ignited those gathered at a Sarasota restaurant.
I believe in the rule of law, Scott said. I believe that if you come into our country illegally, there is no amnesty. And if you violate our laws, and youre stopped by a law enforcement officer, he should be able to ask if youre here legally.
Sue Linenger, who runs an asphalt business in nearby Nokomis, shouted exactly, in response to Scott.
Im ready to vote for him, Linenger said. Its about time we had a businessman run state government. Its like hiring a CEO. I dont have anything against Bill McCollum, but Im looking for fresh people.
A new survey by Public Policy Polling shows Scott with a 14 percentage-point lead over McCollum, the state attorney general, 43-29 percent. The poll also shows presumptive Democratic nominee Alex Sink defeating either Republican contender in November.
Elect people with big goals, Scott urged the crowd.
Scott, whose net worth tops $200 million, also echoed his campaign theme that the GOP primary was a choice between his first-time candidacy and what he calls the well-worn approach of McCollum. Although his health-care company paid $1.7 billion in federal fines and settlements for Medicaid and Medicare fraud, Scott responded to voter questions saying, My background is a background of accountability.
One Republican activist said he was still making up his mind. I just wanted to get a look at a guy that can spend this kind of money, said Jim Wallace, a retired sales manager.
Scott, though, failed to shed more light Thursday on an economic plan he rolled out Wednesday the opening of a six-day statewide bus tour that would slice $1.4 billion in property taxes from school funding and roll back state government revenue to 2004 levels.
In a state facing a $6 billion budget shortfall next year, Scott insisted that his plan would not shrink available school dollars or dismantle public services.
We need to drive down the size of state government if were going to grow the private sector, and were going to do it, Scott said. And were going to fund public schools. I care about our public school system.
