Back in 2010, Jeb Bush and Tallahassee Republicans looked to destroy Rick Scott when he took on establishment favorite Bill McCollum in the primary. Four years later, Scott and Bush led the GOP to a big win on Tuesday.
Bush and Scott arent exactly a natural political couple. In 2010, Bush toured the state with McCollum, urging Republicans to back him over Scott. Bush, of course, comes from one of the most successful political dynasties in American history while Scott, despite his current wealth, rose up from an impoverished family. While Bush spent most of his life climbing the political ladder, Scott came up through the private sector. Even on the issues, Bush and Scott often part ways. Bush is much more supportive of Common Core and immigration reform than Scott is, for example.
Scott had some big-name backers like Rick Perry, Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie campaign with him. But Bush, despite their past differences, campaigned across Florida for Scott and other Republicans. Bush went out of his way in the final days of the campaign to help Scott, Pam Bondi, Adam Putnam and other Republicans win their elections.
The results paid off big. Scott narrowly beat Crist but the other three Republicans in the Cabinet demolished their Democratic opponents. Even as Steve Southerland went down to Gwen Graham, Carlos Curbelo -- of whom Bush was an early supporter -- beat out Joe Garcia. Republicans picked up six House seats, building a supermajority there, while keeping their majority in the Senate.
It soon could be time for Scott to pay Bush back. While he has his share of liabilities -- immigration, Common Core, bad memories of his brothers time in the White House -- Bushs presidential chances received a boost on Tuesday with Scotts win. Florida remains the ultimate swing state and no other politician, including possible 2016 presidential candidate Marco Rubio, remains as popular in Florida as Bush does. At the very least, Bush should be able to count on most Florida Republicans if he runs for the presidency and Rubio stays out.
Bush could take a page from Scotts old playbook if he leaps into the presidential race. Scott ran in 2010 arguing Washington and Tallahassee were broken and, as an outsider, he could fix it. Even as the GOP claims both chambers, Congress remains deeply unpopular -- something that will hurt Rubio, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and other Beltway figures in the months to come. Bush can point to his time as a governor and, despite his famous last name, lack of current Beltway ties. He wont be the only Republican following that strategy since Christie, Perry and Scott Walker will also stress the same themes.
In the meantime, Bush and Scott can celebrate the GOPs continued hold on state politics in Florida even as Barack Obama and Bill Nelson show Democrats remain competitive in federal elections. Scott now joins Bush as the only Republicans to win two terms as governor -- something Crist cannot claim.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
