Bud Chiles Bows Out to Back Alex Sink while Rick Scott Team Shrugs it Off

On Thursday, Bud Chiles pulled the plug on his gubernatorial campaign, endorsing Democratic candidate state CFO Alex Sink.

Chiles, the son of Florida political legend Lawton Chiles who served as both a U.S. senator for three terms and governor for two terms, ran without party affiliation instead of remaining a Democrat like his father.

Pledging to fight special interests and refusing to accept any donations of more than $250, Chiles attempted to walk in his fathers footsteps and campaign as a reformer. Most polls showed him pulling in the teens from both Sink and Republican nominee Rick Scott.

Appearing in Tallahassee with Sink, Chiles thanked his family and his supporters and praised Sink.

Alex is a friend, a proven leader and a person of great integrity, said Chiles.

We know our state is at a crossroads and this is a crucial election for the state of Florida, insisted Sink.

The Scott team downplayed the significance of Chiles pulling out of the race and backing Sink. They pointed to a poll released on Thursday by Rasmussen Reports that had Scott beating Sink 45-44 with Chiles out of the picture.

After trying to convince Floridians that Bud Chiles exit would give Alex Sink the lead, todays poll shows that Sinks campaign strategy is just as flawed as her approach to the economy -- the drop wasnt the electoral bailout her campaign needed, said Joe Kildea, a spokesman for Scott. Once Floridians realize just how much of an Obamacrat Alex Sink really is, even more voters will rally behind Rick Scott, the conservative outsider with a plan to create 700,000 jobs.