Republicans in Florida are trying to make nice.
NBCMiami has learned GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott met with state party chairman John Thrasher in Ft. Lauderdale Thursday in an effort to smooth out the party's differences.
Republican healing will take some effort said Ft. Lauderdale party insider Justin Sayfie.
“Anytime you have a negative campaign, tens of millions of dollars spent talking about how bad a candidate is, that's definitely something our Republican nominee Rick Scott is going to have to recover from,” said Sayfie.
Scott trashed Mccollum with his attack ad campaign in the run up to Tuesday's primary election. Mccollum struck back with his own commercials. He lost the election by a slim three percentage point margin. The veteran Republican has congratulated Scott on his win, but has yet to endorse him in the race to be Florida’s next governor.
"I still have serious questions about issues with his character, his integrity, his honesty,” said Mccollum. “Things that go back to Columbia/HCA."
During Scott's tenure as chief executive of hospital corporation Columbia/HCA, the company was accused of committing one of the largest Medicare frauds in history. Scott was never questioned or charged. Columbia/HCA paid a record $1.7 billion to settle criminal fraud charges after Scott left the company.
Republican infighting and a very conservative, anti-establishment candidate may benefit Democratic nominee Alex Sink said Democratic strategist Screven Watson.
"I think in the end you are going to have some Republicans that may hold their noses, not go public for Scott and endorse Sink or help Sink."
