Republican Rick Scott declared victory shortly after Democrat Alex Sink conceded the governor’s race Wednesday morning, and the UF community has differing opinions on the tight win.
“Scott’s victory is going to usher in a very conservative administration and is going to be tied to a very conservative House and Senate leadership,” said political science professor Daniel Smith.
Scott, a 57-year-old former health care executive, will become the state’s first self-financed governor. He poured over $73 million of his own money into his candidacy, which sprang out of nowhere in April. He also spent $53.3 million to win the primary against state attorney general Bill McCollum.
“The race was close enough that it almost had to be recounted,” said UF College Democrats President Kristin Klein. “It shows that money is a really important part of elections.”
Sink, the state’s chief financial officer, entered the 75-day general-election campaign with a seven point lead in the polls. However, her initial popularity was not enough to counteract growing Republican support.
“Rick Scott tapped into the anti-Obama sentiment,” Smith said. “Even though Alex Sink polled much better than fellow Democrats in statewide races, she wasn’t able to overcome the enthusiasm gap the Republicans have.”
Sink won Alachua County with 59 percent to Scott’s 37 percent.
Both the UF College Democrats and Republicans organizations were proud of Tuesday’s turnout. Klein said more than 700 people voted in the Reitz Union Ballroom on Tuesday.
UF College Republicans President Carly Wilson attributed the high turnout partly to the Republicans’ various efforts, which included signs, phone banks and dropping literature door to door. She sees a bright future ahead.
“We will show what we can do for the state and country, which will be reflected in the 2012 elections,” Wilson said.
