Florida Primaries: Split Decision for Wealthy Pols

Rick Scott gets GOP nod, but yacht escapades sink Dem Jeff Greene.

ByABC News
August 23, 2010, 12:11 PM

Aug. 25, 2010 — -- Republican voters in Florida signaled a willingness Tuesday to cast a ballot for a super-wealthy political outsider, giving multi-millionaire healthcare executive Rick Scott the party's nomination for governor after a contentious and costly primary.

Scott defeated the party's establishment candidate, Attorney General Bill McCollum, by a narrow margin after pumping more than $39 million of his own money into a barrage of television and radio ads, mailers, and robocalls. Additional millions from his wife's trust went to a 527 group that bought ads attacking McCollum.

But personal wealth and a willingness to vastly-outspent a political rival was not a sure fire formula for victory -- billionaire real estate mogul Jeff Greene was unable to secure the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate Tuesday night despite dipping into his personal accounts for more than $23 million. Greene, a developer who became better known for the exploits on his luxury yacht with friends Mike Tyson and Lindsay Lohan, lost to Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek.

The two men were part of a bumper crop of millionaire (and billionaire) political candidates this fall, most of whom are tapping their enormous bank accounts to mount serious challenges to more traditional, establishment candidates.

Included in this well-heeled group is Linda McMahon, whose fortune as part of pro-wrestling's power couple has been fuel for a U.S. Senate bid in Connecticut. Billionaire Meg Whitman has dipped into her E-Bay fortune to blanket the airwaves in the race for California governor. Republican Carly Fiorina is also running in California, using her personal wealth to underwrite her senate bid.

Some viewed Tuesday's Florida primaries to be an early barometer on the potency of wealthy self-funded political candidates this year, testing the willingness of voters straining under the financial pressures of the down economy to vote for candidates who live opulent lifestyles replete with mega-mansions and gargantuan yachts.

Included in this well-heeled group is Linda McMahon, whose fortune as part of pro-wrestling's power couple has been fuel for a U.S. Senate bid in Connecticut. Billionaire Meg Whitman has dipped into her E-Bay fortune to blanket the airwaves in the race for California governor. Republican Carly Fiorina is also running in California, using her personal wealth to underwrite her senate bid.

Some viewed Tuesday's Florida primaries to be an early barometer on the potency of wealthy self-funded political candidates this year, testing the willingness of voters straining under the financial pressures of the down economy to vote for candidates who live opulent lifestyles replete with mega-mansions and gargantuan yachts.","publishedDate":"2010-08-23T16:11:27Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"modifiedDate":"2010-08-26T19:56:02Z","section":"Blotter","wordCount":304,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"image","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":null,"dateline":"Aug. 25, 2010 —","seo":{},"LivePromotion":{}},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. 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