Guns and crime took center stage in the gubernatorial contest Wednesday as both nominees, Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink, showed off their endorsements.
Earlier Wednesday the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund and the United Sportsmen of Florida (USF) endorsed Scott for governor, citing his strong support of the Second Amendment.
We sincerely appreciate your support of Second Amendment, self-defense, and anti-crime issues, Marion Hammer, past president of the NRA and executive director of the USF, wrote to Scott. Your position on pro-sportsmen, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-freedom issues has earned you our endorsement and our gratitude.
The NRA gave Scott an A grade and the USF rated the candidate as pro-gun. Scott had received an A grade from the NRA during his hotly contested primary contest for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Attorney General Bill McCollum, whom Scott bested in the primary, received a B grade from the NRA, though he had earned higher marks from the organization in the past.
I am pleased to once again have the support of the NRA in this campaign, said Scott. As a lifelong firearms enthusiast and hunter, I am glad that the NRA has chosen to endorse me. As governor, I will work tirelessly to ensure that Floridians Second Amendment rights are protected.
While Scott was trumpeting his endorsement, Sink had one of her own.
Having already won the endorsements of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Benevolent Association, Sink continued to show off her crime-fighting credentials Wednesday when she unveiled the backing of 27 current and former county sheriffs, including Sheriff Jerry Demings of Orange County and Sheriff Larry Campbell of Leon County.
"I am honored to receive the support of these sheriffs who are on the front line in protecting our communities every day," said Sink. "As governor, I look forward to working with Florida law enforcement to make sure they have every tool they need to protect Floridians."
"We know firsthand the dangers our communities face and that's why sheriffs have complete trust that Alex Sink will work with us to ensure public safety across Florida," said Sheriff Harrell Reid of Hamilton County, the current president of the Florida Sheriffs Association.
"Alex Sink is a proven leader who understands the dangers we face to keep our citizens safe, and as governor we know we can count on her to be a strong advocate for law enforcement," said Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of Palm Beach County.
Some of Sinks backers in law enforcement are attacking Scott, arguing that he wants to cut the state prison budget.
Its basic arithmetic that you cannot cut the correctional system in half without early release of dangerous inmates, said David Murrell, executive director of the Florida PBA, a group that has endorsed Sink.
The Scott camp responded by saying this was politics as usual while the Sink team praised the PBA and other law-enforcement groups for backing their candidate.
The unions are lining up behind Tallahassee politician Alex Sink who will continue wasteful policies at the expense of taxpayers and protect the status quo, said Chad Colby, a spokesman for Scott. Florida has nearly double the cost per prisoner of other states and by using what has worked in other states, Rick Scott will reduce the cost of prisons by spending tax dollars more wisely. Alex Sink should disavow these inaccurate scare tactics.
"Florida's law enforcement community is supporting Alex Sink because they know she is the only candidate for governor with the respected business record and ethical sense to create Florida jobs and reform state government, insisted Kyra Jennings, a spokeswoman for Sink."His attacks show total disrespect to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect Florida's citizens."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
