Bill McCollum Calls the Cops to Help Get Campaign Back on Track

Trailing badly in the polls behind health-care executive Rick Scott in the fight for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, Attorney General Bill McCollum sought to reinforce his crime-fighting credentials on Monday.

With less than a month to go until the Aug. 24 primary election, McCollum is in trouble in the polls -- far behind Scott. Looking to turn these numbers around as quickly as possible, the attorney general headed to Fort Lauderdale on Monday to speak to the Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Training Conference. While there, McCollum announced the formation of a new offshoot of his campaign composed of law-enforcement officials backing his bid.

Floridas sheriffs, police officers and first responders are the heroes serving on the front lines in our communities, keeping our families and streets safe and secure. Im honored by the tremendous support my campaign has received from leaders in the law-enforcement community, said McCollum.

Joining the McCollum Law Enforcement Coalition are a number of sheriffs from around the state, including John Rutherford of Duval County, David Gee from Hillsborough County, Jim Coats of Pinellas County, Judd Grady from Polk County and Don Eslinger from McCollums home base in Seminole County. The coalition also includes Vince Champion from the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association and James Preston from the Florida Fraternal Order of Police.

The coalition also comprises membersfrom another of McCollums bases of support: the Republican leadership in Tallahassee. Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness, a former sheriff of Citrus County, was named to the coalition. So was Sen. Steve Olerich, R-Gainesville, who used to serve as the sheriff of Alachua County. Also joining the coalition was Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, who served as director of law enforcement in Martin County.

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