McCollum campaign declines to endorse Scott for governor

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum did not mention his gubernatorial opponent, former health care executive Rick Scott, by name in his concession press release early Wednesday morning. And he won’t be endorsing Scott for the moment, according to the Palm Beach Post.

McCollum’s spokeswoman, Kristy Campbell, mentioned several Florida politicians whom he would endorse and campaign for, but she omitted Scott.

“The attorney general is looking forward to being on the campaign trail for campaigns for our Republican slate, including Marco Rubio, Jeff Atwater, Adam Putnam, and our new attorney general nominee and Dean Cannon and Mike Haridopolos and our entire legislative slate,” she said. When pressed about Scott, she said that the two had not spoken. Asked again, she essentially repeated McCollum’s other endorsements.

The Republican Party of Florida — which on Sunday condemned Scott for leading a “multifaceted campaign of disinformation” in tying McCollum to disgraced former RPOF chair Jim Greer — endorsed Scott in a press release Wednesday morning. So did the Republican Governors Association, saying, “Intraparty struggles are often difficult to watch, and the contest in Florida has been a good example of that. That said, the primary is over, Rick Scott is the nominee, the general election has begun, and our party now looks forward.” However, RPOF abandoned plans for a unity rally yesterday before election results came in.

McCollum refused to say Monday whether he would endorse Scott, saying, “I don’t know Rick Scott well. … I met him for the first time at the Univision debate. I’ve never eyed him across the table except at the debate. He ducked a big statewide debate.”