Can the Florida Republican Party unify after a bitter primary barely won by Scott?
“It’s all up to Rick Scott — how he handles this victory, how magnanimous he is for those he defeated,” said former state GOP chairman Al Cardenas. “If he reaches out with an olive branch, my sense is the party establishment will stand behind him.” The real question is why Scott would want the establishment to stand anywhere near him. He beat Attorney General Bill McCollum by running against the establishment, by promising to end “business as usual in Tallahassee.” He railed about the dubious financial dealings of indicted former GOP chairman Jim Greer and wrapped the scandal around McCollum’s neck — drawing attacks from Florida Republican chairman John Thrasher. Scott won even though Tallahassee special interests teamed up with GOP legislative leaders to funnel millions of dollars into TV ads depicting him as corrupt. “It’s time to clean house and hold government accountable,” Scott said late Tuesday. That may not be the most welcome message for Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Ho
