Just like the 12th round of a close title fight when both boxers go for the knockout, Attorney General Bill McCollum and health-care executive Rick Scott, the leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, are trying to land uppercuts and hooks before the bell, on this, the last day before the primary.

And just like a title fight, the Republican primary battle is close on the scorecards, with two polls released Monday showing different leaders in the race. 

McCollum backers pounded on Scott over a blog piece from political activist Nick Egoroff -- who was expelled for four years from the Orange County Republican Executive Committee back in 2009 -- claiming a source from Scott’s camp told him that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee demanded $250,000 to endorse Scott over McCollum.

The Huckabee camp quickly fired back. Huckabee, a former presidential candidate who may run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, moved to Florida earlier in the year. He’s been increasingly active in politics in Florida with HuckPAC and endorsed McCollum over Scott for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

“Let me be perfectly clear: Governor Mike Huckabee has never had a conversation with Rick Scott or anyone on his staff about such matters,” said Hogan Gidley of HuckPAC. “In fact, at the time the Scott campaign claims this was being discussed, Governor Huckabee had already early-voted for Bill McCollum.

Added Gidley, “Governor Huckabee only endorses who he believes will be the best person for the position – and in this case, that’s Florida gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum. This lie from a mysterious source within the Rick Scott campaign shows how dishonest and desperate his campaign is.

“If Rick Scott made this claim, he needs to publicly and immediately admit this is total lie – and if he didn’t say it, he needs to fire whichever member of his campaign staff said it,” concluded Gidley.

The Scott camp returned the fire, sending out releases attacking McCollum for being inconsistent on everything from immigration to abortion.

“Bill McCollum is a career politician who will say or do anything to get elected, even change positions on core issues like abortion or immigration,” said Jennifer Baker, a spokeswoman for Scott. “His pandering to social conservatives on life issues is more proof that he puts politics over principle and will alter his positions to shore up support. Social conservatives should know that when Rick Scott lays out his position, he will be honest and principled while Bill McCollum will pander like Charlie Crist.”

The Scott team released a web video on Monday in a last-minute effort to encourage his supporters to get out to vote Tuesday -- and also take one last shot at McCollum.