GOP business support divided

Jul 29, 2010 — Tampa Tribune

William March

Jul. 29, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- TAMPA -- Florida's top two business trade groups have split on the governor's race, with the Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsing Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination, and Associated Industries of Florida backing both McCollum and Rick Scott for governor.

The chamber backed its words with money this week, handing $500,000 to an independent political group supporting McCollum -- a major boost, as he's running out of money battling an onslaught of advertising from millionaire Scott.

The endorsements indicate the concern some Republicans and their business backers have about the governor's race, that the bruising primary could help likely Democratic nominee Alex Sink.

Both candidates are likely to be business-friendly. McCollum had a pro-business record during his time in Congress from 1981 to 2001, and Scott is an investor and former CEO of a major hospital corporation.

AIF President Barney Bishop said in a statement that his group's endorsement "has little to do with politics or a particular candidate's likelihood of winning," but was done "because we believe that either one would be generally supportive of our positions."

The chamber hasn't previously endorsed a candidate in a Florida governor's race.

"The single biggest thing was trust -- we've known him for 20 years," chamber President Steve Halverson of Jacksonville said of the choice of McCollum. "This is an endorsement for somebody, not against anybody."

But some Republicans worry that in a general election, Scott could be vulnerable to attack because his company paid a record $1.7 billion in fines and settlements to the federal government on charges of criminal Medicare fraud.

If that was to lead to a Sink win, state government dominance by the Republicans could be threatened.

At a time when McCollum is trailing in polls and "needs all the assistance and help he can get," the split endorsement is a victory for Scott, said retired University of South Florida political scientist Darryl Paulson, a Republican who leans toward McCollum in the primary.

He said the split endorsement shows the business community "is content with either candidate," but "a lot of people are concerned that Scott has more vulnerabilities to exploit" in a general election.

He said the endorsements "will have almost zero impact" on the average voter, but may convince some businesspeople to contribute to one candidate or the other.

McCollum said AIF included Scott because he's on its board.

Scott actually left the board about six months ago, but his position there may have influenced AIF members in his favor, Bishop said in an interview.

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0201-47418142