As the clock ticks down to Nov. 4, Gov. Rick Scott is traveling around the state to get out the vote personally in his final push to be re-elected as governor.
On Friday, Scott stopped at a local Cuban restaurant in Tampa as part of his tour to promote early voting, which started this week across Florida. The governor has repeatedly stressed the importance of early voting to clinch victory for a second term.
Its important to get out to vote, said Scott. Its an exciting time.
Scott was joined by flocks of Tampa Bay Republicans pledging their support for the governors quest.
House Speaker Will Weatherford, there at the governor's side, said, There are two types of people who run for office: There are people who want to be somebody -- we know who that is in this race -- and there are people who want to do something."
Weatherford emphasized the importance of early voting in an election coming down to the wire.
We should go into Election Day with such a huge leap that Charlie Crist and his friends have nothing to do but to sob in their own tears because we would have won [the election] by Nov. 4, he said.
Gov. Rick Scott is not a politician, said Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton. Hes a doer.
Scott admitted hed be investing some of his own money in his campaign, but didnt specify how much he would pump into the race in the closing days.
Theres an out-of-state billionaire ... who's helping Charlie run a smear campaign, so Ann and I are going to invest in this race just to make sure we have a big win, he said, referring to liberal California billionaire Tom Steyer. Were going to have a strong finish.
In 2010, the governor spent over $75 million of his own money in his first bid for governor.
Not all went smoothly at Scotts event -- a crowd of environmental protesters gathered in front of the event, marching and shouting Scott is too shady for the Sunshine State.
Rebekah Anderson, a member of the environmental group Greenpeace Florida, said she is concerned about Scotts denial of climate change -- the issue in the race that Steyer has paid for.
He needs to stop denying climate (change) and start doing something about it, she told Sunshine State News.
But Charlie Crist wasnt totally off the hook either, Anderson said.
When we ask him about climate science, he says Yeah, its a big issue ... facing Florida, but he hasnt said what hes doing, she explained.
Nearly every recent poll has Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist tied in what will inevitably be an incredibly close election.
With more than 1 million votes already cast in the election, the Republican Party maintains a slight, 140,000-plus lead over the Democratic Party.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen via email atallison@sunshinestatenews.comor follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
