If this game plan sounds familiar, theres a reason for that. Scott came out of nowhere in 2010 to beat Bill McCollum and Alex Sink by running to the right to focus on fiscal issues, jobs and repealing Obamacare. Its a strategy thats worked for Scott before and he's following it again.
Scott has shied away from this basic strategy in recent months. Even as Crists lead in the polls has evaporated, Scott has often shifted left, trying to match his Democrat opponent on education and environmental spending.
But since Labor Day, the traditional start of the general election season, Scott has returned to his wheelhouse. In recent days, he has been pushing more tax cuts including more tax holidays, getting rid of the manufacturing sales tax for good, slashing cellphone taxes and lowering the business income tax. Scott is even shopping around a proposed constitutional amendment making sure property taxes dont go up if property values go down or plateau.
Scott has also been increasingly painting Crist as an Obama ally. Every time Scott mentions Crist he increasingly talks about the president, lumping the two of them together. Sure, Obama carried Florida twice, but his political magic has worn off in Florida, a not uncommon phenomenon for presidents in their second term. Polls continue to show Obama is upside down in Florida though Democrats generally still like their president.
By pushing tax cuts and constantly shredding Obama, Scott is tipping his hand a little bit. Polls show voters dont particularly care much for either Scott or Crist though both men are in good shape with their respective parties. Plenty of voters will be turned off by both candidates and will end up staying home come November, meaning this election becomes a contest of who can turn out their base.
If theres anything Republicans can agree on, its the need for more tax cuts and opposing Obama. By beating the drum on those issues, Scott should be able to ensure Republicans turn out in force, something they usually do during off-year elections.
Scott simply cant win the election if it becomes a contest over who can spend more since all that does is turn off the Republican base. By turning his focus to tax cuts and tying Crist to Obama, Scott should find it easier to mobilize his base come November.
Tallahassee-based political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
