Rick Scott Files for Governor

Health care executive Rick Scott, a political phenomenon who went from virtual unknown to the leading candidate for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the course of a mere two months, filed his paperwork to make his bid official on Thursday morning. Minutes later Attorney General Bill McCollum --the one-time front-runner in the race, now behind Scott -- filed his paperwork and offered harsh words for his Republican rival.

Its official, said Scott as he turned in his paperwork. I am a candidate for governor for the great state of Florida.

Scott had been politically active in the national fight over health care in 2009 and 2010 before announcing his gubernatorial bid in April. Backed by an aggressive media campaign which has been estimated to cost over $15 million, Scott moved up in the polls and overtook McCollum despite the attorney general being on Floridas political scene since first being elected to the U.S. House in 1980. A poll taken by Quinnipiac University last week revealed Scott was backed by 44 percent of voters in the Republican primary while 31 percent backed McCollum.

Teresa Valdes, a conservative from Port Orange challenging Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, in the Republican primary, was filing the paperwork for her campaign at the same time that Scott was and she was impressed with the candidate.

I love Scott, said Valdes. Hes a business guy who has proven to the world that he can run a business.