Big win for health-care executive Rick Scott, the front-runner in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, as a federal judge issued an injunction against GOP rival Attorney General Bill McCollum receiving additional dollars courtesy of taxpayers if Scott exceeded the $24.9 million spending cap.
Scott had challenged Florida’s campaign finance law in state courts, seeking to deny McCollum public funds, but the appeal was denied. On Friday afternoon, a federal judge in Atlanta -- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Chief Judge Joel Dubina -- ruled in Scott’s favor.
“It is disappointing Rick Scott keeps trying to change the rules in the middle of an election despite pledging to abide by them,” said Matt Williams, McCollum‘s campaign manager. “Floridians should not be surprised someone responsible for overseeing the most massive taxpayer fraud case in history once again believes the rules do not apply to him.”
“Ultimately, the decision will be left up to the Department of State, but our campaign is reviewing our legal options,” said Williams.
Williams insisted this was not a fatal blow for his candidate.
“Regardless of the outcome of this case, we remain very confident we will have the resources necessary to communicate Bill McCollum’s solid conservative record of leadership and his vision for Florida’s future with voters across the state,” said Williams. “We are also confident Floridians are becoming increasingly leery of a greedy corporate insider whose only record is consistently putting profit over principle.”