Rick Scott, the former CEO of HCA, has emerged from a nasty primary race to win the Republican nomination for Florida Governor, according to a report by the Miami Herald.
Spending at least $50 million of his own money in the campaign, Mr. Scott called his main primary opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum, a "desperate career politician" who is out of touch with the people.
Mr. McCollum conceded the election to Mr. Scott but refused to support him. "I still have serious questions about issues of his character, his integrity, his honesty," he said, referring to HCA's payment of $1.7 billion in fines fine after a federal criminal investigation during the time Mr. Scott led the company.
However, now that Mr. Scott has won voter support, other top Republicans are embracing him. Florida GOP Chairman John Thrasher met with Mr. Scott for nearly two hours after the election. And Haley Barbour, the chair of Republican Governors Association, called Scott and committed "the full resources of the RGA" to his race for governor.
In the general election, Mr. Scott will face Democrat Alex Sink and independent Lawton "Bud'' Chiles.
Read the Miami Herald report on Rick Scott.
Read more on Rick Scott.
- Fraud Allegations Against Urgent Care Chain Owned by Former HCA CEO Rick Scott Sent to HHS
- Former HCA CEO Rick Scott Faces Uphill Battle to Become Florida Governor
- Columbia Founder Rick Scott Enters Healthcare Battle With a $5 Million Bang
Spending at least $50 million of his own money in the campaign, Mr. Scott called his main primary opponent, Attorney General Bill McCollum, a "desperate career politician" who is out of touch with the people.
Mr. McCollum conceded the election to Mr. Scott but refused to support him. "I still have serious questions about issues of his character, his integrity, his honesty," he said, referring to HCA's payment of $1.7 billion in fines fine after a federal criminal investigation during the time Mr. Scott led the company.
However, now that Mr. Scott has won voter support, other top Republicans are embracing him. Florida GOP Chairman John Thrasher met with Mr. Scott for nearly two hours after the election. And Haley Barbour, the chair of Republican Governors Association, called Scott and committed "the full resources of the RGA" to his race for governor.
In the general election, Mr. Scott will face Democrat Alex Sink and independent Lawton "Bud'' Chiles.
Read the Miami Herald report on Rick Scott.
Read more on Rick Scott.
- Fraud Allegations Against Urgent Care Chain Owned by Former HCA CEO Rick Scott Sent to HHS
- Former HCA CEO Rick Scott Faces Uphill Battle to Become Florida Governor
- Columbia Founder Rick Scott Enters Healthcare Battle With a $5 Million Bang