Analysis: Rookie Rick Scott could shake up race for Florida governor

You might be wondering about that bald guy, Rick Scott, who keeps popping up on TV talking about getting elected governor of Florida.

He's a multimillionaire political rookie who could be Bill McCollum's worst nightmare as a Republican rival. Or the dream client of political consultants who stand to make a bundle off of Scott's ego and long shot campaign. Maybe both.

What's clear in this vast state where political viability is defined in dollar signs is that Scott can't be dismissed.

In one month, the controversial co-founder of Columbia/HCA healthcare system has spent more than $4.7 million introducing himself to Floridians in TV and radio ads -- more than McCollum has raised in 12.

The GOP has spent about $1 million on ads attacking Democrat Alex Sink, and her campaign spends a fraction of that on TV spots responding.

Scott, who moved two years ago into an $11.5 million waterfront home in Naples, is on pace to spend more than $25 million by the Aug. 24 primary, and his campaign has signalled no hesitation to paint McCollum as a useless career politician.

``If ever there were a time for a conservative outsider who understands business the time is now,'' Scott said in an interview. ``There's going to be a clear choice between career politicians with their old ideas and stuck in the status quo and a complete outsider with fresh ideas. . . . I've built companies, I've created jobs, I know the frustration of small businesses with higher taxes.''

LARGELY IGNORED

Scott's last-minute candidacy caught the McCollum campaign -- and most everybody else -- flat-footed. Publicly, the Republican attorney general has largely ignored his wealthy rival.

``Bill McCollum has been a faithful Republican, he's been tried and true, and this guy jumps in like an interloper,'' lamented veteran Republican fundraiser Ann Herberger, who questioned whether it is too late for Scott to overtake McCollum.

``This is a fundraiser's worst nightmare come true. It could be a game-changer, but time is Rick Scott's enemy.''

Florida Democrats have signaled they see Scott, 57, as a potential Republican nominee, with the state party blasting Scott's business background in news releases and Web ads.

``I think Rick Scott's going to be the nominee. McCollum's known, but he is not that known,'' said Democratic front-runner Alex Sink's normally conservative pollster, Dave Beattie of Jacksonville, acknowledging the motherlode of ammunition available against Scott.

``If McCollum only has a week [of TV commercials] to tell that story, I don't think it gets through,'' Beattie said.

Scott appears to differ little with McCollum on issues, and so far offers only broad platitudes about cutting waste and making government accountable. But in a year when voters are fed up with incumbents, Scott is campaigning as a tea party outsider who knows business.

The McCollum campaign scoffs at the potential threat.

``Rick Scott is a relatively unknown candidate that will have to answer some very serious questions about his history if he is to be viewed as a credible candidate,'' said spokeswoman Kristy Campbell.

The main question centers around Scott's leadership at Columbia/HCA, the healthcare mega company he helped found and expand. Scott was ousted from the firm amid a federal fraud investigation into the company's business and billing practices. The company wound up paying a record $1.7 billion settlement after pleading guilty to overbilling the government.

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