Welcome to

Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Scott is sueing to keep his opponent from receiving matching funds for every dollar he spends over 24.9 million. Scott is almost there. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, without the state matching dollars, Bill McCollum will have a hard time keeping up with his multi-millionaire opponent who is burning through his own money trying to get elected.

This is a story about the haves and the have nots. Attorney General Bill McCollum has burned through much of his campaign cash, as millionaire Rick Scott spends millions each week on TV. Scott is asking a federal judge to rule the state’s campaign finance law, which could begin pumping millions into McCollum’s Campaign unconstitutional.

Neither Scott’s attorney nor McCollum’s would talk about the case. But election expert Ron Meyer says the judge has a tough decision to make.

“Whether the burden on speech Rick Scott claims occurs if other candidates get public money when he breaks cap are justified by a compelling state interest,” said Meyer.

Florida’s campaign finance law is already so full of loopholes that a decision here may not matter much. Candidates are already free to raise and then spend as much as they want through committees called 527s.

Getting matching money may be the only way McCollum can continue to compete on TV, but it could also upset his base of less government enthusiasts. Still Public relations expert Ron Sachs says McCollum is doing the right thing.

“He’s doing exactly right thing and he’s using the system exactly as it was properly intended,” said Sachs.

The Federal case is just the beginning of a long legal battle over public financing. Voters may also get a chance to make their voices heard when they are asked to abolish the system on the November ballot.

McCollum only has 800-thousand dollar left in his war-chest; that’s not enough money to fund a full week of statewide TV ads in a state as big as Florida.