Florida Gov. Rick Scott has dropped $12.8 million of his own money on his re-election bid, Politico reported Saturday.
The cash infusion, reported in a filing to the Florida Division of Elections, marks a shift from Scott’s earlier insistence that he would not self-fund.
Scott is facing a spirited challenge from former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican turned Democrat, and public polling has shown the two men neck-and-neck — even though Scott has outspent Crist on advertising by $30 million. Meanwhile, Crist has outraised Scott by six-to-one, the Miami Herald reported.
These discouraging trend lines led Scott last month to warn that he might use his own money on the race after all.
“If I end up putting money into the race, then it’s to make sure we have a strong finish,” he said at the time.
Scott, a former hospital CEO, invested $75.1 million in his successful 2010 bid for governor. But in April 2012, Scott said he did not plan to use his own money on his re-election bid in 2014.
“I won’t have to,” Scott said at the time.
The race between Scott and Crist is one of the most-watched gubernatorial races in the country this year. The outcome could also have implications for the presidential race in 2016, in which Florida will likely be a key battleground state.
Crist leads Scott by just over a point, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
