Florida Gov. Rick Scott is going to New York to discuss campaign strategy with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, not to be vetted as a running mate, the governor told national media outlets Friday. The meeting is set for Monday.
In the interviews Friday on CNN and CNBC, Scott said “no” when asked if he was willing to submit to the background checks and interviews that likely would be part of getting on Trump’s short list of vice presidential candidates.
“I’m going to pass on that,” Scott told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer.
“I’ll say no. I’m going to pass. I like this job,” Scott continued. “I worked hard to get this job.”
Scott, who endorsed Trump in March and who again predicted the GOP candidate will win the Florida vote in November, went further on CNBC in detailing the upcoming Big Apple huddle.
“We’re going to talk about my race in 2010 and 2014, how I won, and how we can help him make sure he wins Florida,” Scott said.
Poll results released Friday by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research showed expected Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton up 45 percent to 42 percent over Trump in Florida, with voters deeply divided along gender, race and ethnic lines.
Clinton was up 55 percent to 33 percent among women, 90 percent to 4 percent among black voters and 68 percent to 20 percent among Hispanic voters. Men favored Trump by a 52 percent to 34 percent margin, and white voters backed him 55 percent to 31 percent.
Scott, noting that in 2010 he was a “business person and outsider” as is Trump, added that Trump’s message of “job creation, defend the country and build up the military” will resonate in Florida.
Asked about the “tone and tenor” of Trump’s campaign, Scott replied that “in my race I wanted everybody to be safe and secure. I wanted people to come to my events. Everybody runs their race a different way.”
Scott later said that he hasn’t been to a Trump rally. “I couldn’t speak to how his rallies are run,” Scott said.
Both interviews also focused on Scott calling for President Barack Obama to provide funding to fight the mosquito-borne Zika virus while Congress is in recess.
Obama has pushed Congress to provide $1.9 billion to combat Zika. The House has supported $622.1 million, while Senate is willing to provide $1.1 billion.
–News Service of Florida
The Truth says
This man is paid to be the Governor of Florida not a campaign strategist. I don’t understand why it’s okay for him to fly to New York for a meeting unrelated to the state of Florida. Yet another reason why I dislike this man.
Donald Trump's Tiny Fingers says
Oh well, so much for the most clownshow ticket imaginable in the history of american electoral politics. Maybe trump’ll pick david duke.
Geezer says
I think that Bernie Madoff would be the perfect running mate for Trump.
But then again, he would match up with Hillary just as well.
3 peas in a pod….
DaveT says
I was a Trump supporter, now the more he talks the more I can’t stand the man, just like Ricky Scott. Every time I open my eyes, I see Stupid People in Politics. Hillary and Trump the worst of the best there is in America, God help us.
Scott belongs in a Freak Show says
The best news I’ve heard all week. I was sickened to learn that it was ever a consideration that Scott would be on Trump’s short list. if Trump had half a brain he wouldn’t give Scott the time of day let alone meet with him. I don’t think there is anything Trump can learn from Scott other than how to rip people off the Medicare way and plead the 5th. Scott is the worse Florida Governor I can recall in my young life, and he never should have been elected to begin with. It can’t be too soon for him to pack up and get out of here. If someone decent would have ran against him in 2014 he would be history today! Remember, this is our tax dollars at work and if we don’t do something about it by stopping clowns like this from getting into office it will only continue.
Knightwatch says
I’m so sorry to hear this. Scott and Drumph would have been the funniest reality show on TV… The World’s Biggest Losers!
Eugene Hartke says
I guess he realized that having two swindlers on the same ticket would be a little too much.
Patience says
Thank you, Scott belongs in a freek show. Well said. Scott being VP. That’s as bad as Hillary winning. It would show everyone that they could do whatever they want, hurt people and take advantage of the system, lie and get away with it.