Immigration issue heats up Fla. Gov. race

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Arizona's new strict, anti-immigration law is heating up the Republican race for governor in Florida. It's only the end of May, but according to NewsChannel 5 Political Expert Dr. Robert Watson, so far this political year has proved to be an interesting one.

"This is the year when establishment candidates are losing," says Watson. "And outsiders, who people didn't think had a prayer or chance, are pulling off the upset, and Rick Scott's got that going for him."

Scott, an overnight surprise in the hunt for the Republican nomination, has rallied behind Arizona's crackdown on immigration. And his ads have been targeting everyone in his way.

Like the ad in which a narrator says, "President Obama thinks our immigration problem is funny." The president is then heard saying, "Everyone knows what happens when you don't have ID. Adios amigos."

But last week, new ads hit the air, this time challenging Scott's primary opponent, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. In the new ad an announcer says, "But Bill McCollum rejects Arizona's approach. McCollum then is heard saying, "We don't need that law in Florida, that's not what's gonna happen here."

The claim, though, is only partially true. McCollum had only stated that Arizona's law was too "far out" for Florida. He does support a crackdown on immigration.

"Whether or not this ad is accurate, in politics perception is reality," says Watson. "Rick Scott is tying Bill McCollum to the failed policies of the past 20 years and because Bill McCollum has been in office for so long, because he's the household establishment name, it sticks. The mud sticks."

With Scott throwing 5 million dollars of his own money towards his campaign, McCollum may have his hands full.

"If somebody throws mud on you, and you don't respond within about the first 48 or 72 hours, it sticks," Watson says. "So it's going to take a whole lot of money to clean himself off, and get this mud off him."

The two candidates will square off August 24th in the Republican primary.