The news that Rick Scott could run for the Senate in 2018, whether or not Bill Nelson wants a fourth term, shook up Florida politics this week.
In breaking the news that Scott has told allies that he could run in 2018, Adam Smith at the Tampa Bay Times thought the move made sense. After all, Scott first took the political stage by opposing Obamacare and he can do far more on that issue in the Senate than he can in Tallahassee.
Certainly Scott is still concerned about the issue, no real surprise given his background in health-care management and leading Conservatives for Patients Rights (CPR). Earlier this month, Scott called out Barack Obama on Obamacare in an op-ed for Politico.
Even though he beat Charlie Crist last year, Scott remains politically active. Lets Get to Work brought out a new commercial earlier this month showing off how the economy has blossomed under Scott. Always, at best, an awkward public speaker, the ad shows Scotts strengths as a communicator: focus, clear messaging and quick data points. Scott is far better in short ads than he is when he delivers a speech.
Still, there are other explanations as to why Scott ran the commercial. After the controversy over firing Gerald Bailey from FDLE and Leslie Dougher being tossed out at RPOF, Scott needs to regain some momentum and cant afford the often difficult Senate to buck him on tax cuts or other issues in the weeks ahead.
Its also hard to imagine Scott as a legislator, especially as he has been an executive in both the private sector and as governor. The Senate might be the worlds greatest deliberative body but thats not exactly Scotts modus operandi. If Scott really has his heat set on Washington, having a seat at the next Republican presidents Cabinet table seems a far more natural fit than sitting in the Senate.
Scotts trial balloons could point to another possibility. Already behind Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio in the Florida GOP pecking order, Scott could be going through the motions to remain in the conversation. After Bailey and RPOF setbacks, thats a real possibility, especially as other Republicans start to get ready for Senate runs in 2016 and 2018 and lining up for governor in 2018. Scotts at the start of his second term and isnt ready to start quacking like a lame duck quite yet.
Tallahassee-based political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
