Did TEA Endorsement Tip the Race for Scott at the End?

Give the Florida TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party credit. It knows how to stir up controversy ... and maybe even a victory.

In a bit of strategic timing, TEA Chairman Frederic O'Neal endorsed Rick Scott the day before the primary election. The endorsement was immediately challenged by other tea groups, which have a pending lawsuit against O'Neal, alleging that he illegally appropriated the name.

Sensing that a tempest was brewing, the Scott campaign quickly scrubbed any reference to the endorsement from its website. But the word was out. TEA officials said they had already sent 100,000 e-mails announcing the endorsement.

After Scott's victory, O'Neal was exultant.

"It is a great day for Florida," he said.