Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink homed in on widely divergent voting blocs Saturday in the pivotal Interstate-4 region, as the two gubernatorial contenders split sharply over public schools and the state’s powerful teachers’ union.
With each candidate stepping-up get-out-the-vote efforts in a governor’s race most polls show is drum-tight, Sink delivered her campaign’s closing argument to the Florida Education Association, which has endorsed her, while Scott rented out a Winter Park theater for the screening of a new film ridiculing the public school system for failing millions of students.
The contrast between the two candidates on education was vivid – with Scott, who has poured $73 million into his own campaign, watching “Waiting for Superman,” in a small theater accompanied by several low-income students whose tuition at an area private school is paid through the state’s corporate voucher program.
Sink took the stage in a cavernous International Drive hotel.
“I have to start out by saying one word, `Friends,'” Sink told a gathering of several hundred educators at an FEA conference, adding that she would be the first Florida governor in 12 years whose children were educated in public schools. “We cannot build a stronger economy without a stronger public education system.”
But on the other side of Orange County, Scott criticized Sink, saying she wants to maintain the state’s current public school system and refuses to promote school choice or vouchers. Sink has said she would maintain the current $140 million corporate voucher program, but does not want it expanded as Scott does.
“We should do everything we can to expand these programs so we’re not beholden to special interests that are deciding where our kids are going to go to school and what kind of education they receive,” Scott said.
While Sink was affirming her support for the teachers’ union, Scott opened his day just a dozen miles away at an airport rally with former Gov. Jeb Bush, a longtime nemesis of the FEA who introduced the nation’s first statewide private-school voucher program his first year in office. Bush called Scott a “can-do leader.” They were joined by Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher, the party’s slate of Cabinet candidates, and area congressional contenders.
“I want a tax-cutting, budget-cutting, job-climate-creating governor, and Rick Scott is that guy,” Bush told a couple hundred party activists at the city’s executive airport.”I have a special place in my heart for principled-centered governors, and you’re going to be great,” the former governor said in introducing Scott.
For his part, Scott focused chiefly on driving Republican turnout, urging supporters, “The key is, we can’t let up. If we don’t, we change what’s happening in D.C. There’s no way we should lose.”
Scott stuck to his campaign themes of cutting taxes, freezing state regulation and creating jobs – and bashing Sink as “an ally of Obama.”
Two polls released this week by Quinnipiac University and Mason-Dixon Polling & Research show Sink narrowly leading the governor’s race – but by margins generally within the margins-of-errors, making the contest a toss-up. A different phone poll had Scott up by a small amount. An overwhelming advantage for Republicans in early voting also has started to shrink, in Orange County and elsewhere across the Interstate-4 corridor that historically proves decisive in statewide elections.
The polls also found Scott is battling high unfavorable ratings from voters – with Quinnipiac’s survey also showing the former health care executive, battered by tough TV ads in both the primary and general election campaigns, the favorite of 74 percent of Republicans, compared to Sink’s 85 percent backing from Democrats.
The close contest is also reflected in party fundraising – with both the Florida Democratic and Republican parties raising just about $31 million in the two months since the August primary election. Scott’s personal wealth, however, has made an enormous difference, with the GOP nominee pumping another $11.6 million into his campaign, according to state finance reports filed Friday night – bringing to $73 million his total investment.
Sink completed the fundraising part of her campaign with $11.2 million in cash and another $6 million in in-kind contributions. The governor’s race has become the most expensive in state history.
Sink, who has steadily tried to erode Scott’s support by questioning his role as CEO of hospital chain Columbia/HCA, which paid $1.7 billion in fraud fines and settlements three years after he left, again sought to drive that point in speaking to teachers.
“If you believe that character and integrity and doing the right thing and getting rid of all this partisanship are important, are you coming with me,” Sink said in concluding her FEA speech.
Sink traveled part of Saturday with U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a New York Democrat urging Central Florida voters of Puerto Rican descent to the polls for the gubernatorial contender and other candidates. The Democratic nominee also attended Florida A&M University’s football game in Tallahassee, greeting tailgating crowds at the school’s homecoming game.
At Florida A & M a historically black college, her campaign handed out “Rattlers for Sink” t-shirts in the parade and she circled the stadium, weaving her way through the parking lots and streets packed with food and craft vendors.
Dressed in a large orange golf shirt, Sink visited tents with music blaring over loud speakers that fans would turn off to let her speak.
“So many people here have already voted – voting for me,” Sink said, beaming. “It’s pretty exciting. We started out in Orlando. We’re on our way back down to Miami and I feel a big, big momentum for this week in early voting and also for Tuesday. People are very committed and excited.”
Before the game began, Sink headed to the 50-yard line, handled the flip for the coin toss. The winner: Morgan State, the opposing team.
Both candidates exuded confidence as Election Day neared. But, clearly, both also warned against a let-down among supporters.
“Even though we’re doing well now, we’re going to make sure we are so far ahead there are so many early votes, that we have a good night,” Scott urged Orlando supporters. “Tell 10, 20, 30 people, to go vote.”
By John Kennedy
The News Service of Florida
