Rick Scott's spending hits $73M

Republican Rick Scott gave his campaign another $11.6 million in the final 12 days, bringing his total personal spending to more than $73 million and making this far and away the most expensive governor's race in history.

The record-shattering investment put an exclamation point on Florida's topsy-turvy election cycle as candidates fanned out across the state Saturday for their final sprint before Tuesday.

``I believe in what I'm doing. I believe this is the right purpose. I think we need to start standing up and save the state and save the country,'' Scott said of his spending as he chartered a twin-engine turboprop plane to ferry him to four major media markets. ``I've been blessed, and so I made a big commitment.''

In a reminder of how the Naples businessman has transformed from the outsider candidate shunned as unfit for office to Mr. Establishment, Scott was joined at campaign stops by former Gov. Jeb Bush in Orlando and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, head of the Republican Governors Association, in Riverview.

Newly released campaign finance reports show that the RGA pumped $6.5 million into the state GOP between late August and Oct. 28 -- by far the single-biggest donor for a period where the party raised about $31.5 million. Other major donors included U.S. Sugar ($1.7 million), BlueCross Blue Shield ($910,000), paving giant Anderson-Columbia and its retired president ($655,000), and the Seminole Tribe ($550,000), which has gaming interests.

Donor after donor -- including the Florida Chamber and U.S. Sugar and committees controlled by top legislators -- are pouring money into the Republican Party. These same groups had spent millions into attack ads painting Scott as a virtual crook in his Republican primary against Bill McCollum. But now the groups are spending millions to help the state GOP attack Democrat Alex Sink's fitness for office.

VERY SKILLED

Sink has proven to be the most successful fundraiser Florida Democrats have ever seen, though the $11.2 million she raised over the campaign is less than what Scott spent in the last 12 days. But with Sink at the top of the ticket, the state Democratic party had its best fundraising quarter ever, matching the $31.5 million raised by the Republican party.

The Democratic Governors Association was the largest contributor, steering $6.3 million to a political committee set up by Tallahassee lawyer Mark Herron, named MARK pac. Lawyers and labor unions are the next top donors, contributing $3.9 million and $1.7 million respectively, according to the reports.

MARK pac also raised $2.8 million from the Florida teachers union and its national partner, the National Education Association, and collected $450,000 from Emily's List, the organization that promotes liberal-leaning women candidates.

Sink spent Saturday afternoon greeting tailgating crowds at Florida A&M's homecoming game. Dressed in an orange golf shirt, Sink was given royalty status as she worked the crowd.

``I feel a big, big momentum for this week in early voting and also for Tuesday,'' she said. ``People are very committed and excited.''

State Sen. Al Lawson, a Tallahassee Democrat, said he believes Scott's money blitz is making people more cynical about politicians.

``Everybody believes you can buy it if you have enough money,'' he said. ``It's turning people off. They know the election is not about them, it's about who is selling power and who is buying it.''

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