On April 9, 2010, Rick Scott announced his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination for Governor of Florida in the 2010 election.[1] Susie Wiles, former communications chief to Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, serves as his campaign manager. Tony Fabrizio is his chief pollster. It was reported on May 7 that Scott's campaign has already spent $4.7 million on television and radio ads.[2] Scott's first video advertisement was released to YouTube on April 13.[3]
Republican primary opponent Bill McCollum has made an issue of Scott's role at Columbia/HCA. Scott has countered that the FBI never targeted him, and Marc Caputo of Miami Herald contended that a 1998 bill sponsored by McCollum would have made it more difficult to prosecute Medicare fraud cases, and is counter to his current view and allegation.[4]
A telephone survey of likely voters in Florida conducted by Rasmussen on June 7 indicate that, in a matchup with potential Democratic nominee Alex Sink, Scott leads 45 percent to 40 percent.[5] A June 10 Quinnipiac poll showed Scott with a 13-point lead over McCollum.[6]