Business groups split on support for GOP gubernatorial candidates

Florida's top two business trade groups have split on the governor's race, with the Florida Chamber of Commerce endorsing Bill McCollum for the Republican nomination, and Associated Industries of Florida backing both McCollum and Rick Scott for governor.

The Chamber backed its words with money this week, handing $500,000 to an independent political group supporting McCollum -- a major boost, as he's running out of money battling an onslaught of advertising from millionaire Scott.

The endorsements may have little effect on voters, but indicate the concern some Republicans and their business backers have over the governor's race, that the bloody primary could help likely Democratic nominee Alex Sink.

Both candidates are likely to be business-friendly. McCollum has a pro-business record in Congress, and Scott is an investor and former CEO of a major hospital corporation.

AIF President Barney Bishop said in a written statement that its endorsement "has little to do with politics or a particular candidate's likelihood of winning," but was done "because we believe that either one would be generally supportive of our positions."

The Chamber doesn't normally endorse candidates, and hasn't previously endorsed in a Florida governor's race.

"The single biggest thing was trust-we've known him for 20 years," Chamber President Steve Halverson of Jacksonville said of the choice of McCollum.

Halverson wasn't critical of Scott. "This is an endorsement for somebody, not against anybody," he said.

But some Republicans worry that in a general election, Scott could be vulnerable to attack based on his company's record of having paid a record $1.7 billion in fines and settlements to the federal government on charges of criminal Medicare fraud.

If that led to a Sink win, state government dominance by the Republicans could be threatened.

At a time when McCollum is trailing in polls and "needs all the assistance and help he can get," the split endorsement is a victory for Scott, said retired University of South political scientist Darryl Paulson, a Republican who leans toward McCollum in the primary.

He said the split endorsement shows the business community "is content with either candidate," but, "a lot of people are concerned that Scott has more vulnerabilities to exploit" in a general election.

He said the endorsements "will have almost zero impact" on the average voter, but may convince some businesspeople to contribute to one candidate or the other.

McCollum said AIF included Scott because he's an AIF board member.

Scott actually left the board about six months ago, but his position there may have influenced AIF members in his favor, Bishop said in an interview.