TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Gov. Rick Scott is endorsing Donald Trump one day after the billionaire won the Florida presidential primary.
Scott made the announcement Wednesday on his official Facebook page.
The governor said "it is now time for Republicans to accept and respect the will of the voters and coalesce behind Donald Trump."
Like Trump, Scott is a wealthy businessman who spent millions of his fortune in his first run for office. He was elected governor in 2010.
Thank you to the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, for your endorsement. I greatly appreciate your support!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2016
Scott had refused to make an endorsement before Florida's primary but had dropped hints at a possible Trump endorsement. That drew the ire of other Republicans in the state who had generally coalesced around U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
Trump easily beat Florida Sen. Marco Rubio on Tuesday, taking all 99 Florida Republican delegates and forcing Rubio out of the race.
In the last 2 weeks, I had $35M of negative ads against me in Florida & I won in a massive landslide.The establishment should save their $$!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2016
Below is the full post on Scott's Facebook page:
I’m asking all Republicans today to come together and begin preparing to win the general election in November.
With his victories yesterday, I believe it is now time for Republicans to accept and respect the will of the voters and coalesce behind Donald Trump.
This has been a hard fought primary, with an outstanding roster of excellent candidates, including two of Florida’s favorite sons, and several Republican Governors who are close friends of mine.
But the voters are speaking clearly – they want a businessman outsider who will dramatically shake up the status quo in Washington.
When I first ran for Governor the political class and party leaders opposed me with great vigor, and some even said if I won the primary they would never vote for me. But the voters had other ideas, and they are the only ones who count.
Here’s what really matters – we have to elect a Republican in the fall in order to grow jobs, rebuild our military, and put a person who respects the Constitution on the Supreme Court.
This is the stuff that truly matters.
If we spend another four months tearing each other apart, we will damage our ability to win in November. It’s time for an end to the Republican on Republican violence. It’s time for us to begin coming together, we’ve had a vigorous primary, now let’s get serious about winning in November.
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT CALLS ON REPUBLICANS TO COME TOGETHERI’m asking all Republicans today to come together and begin...
Posted by Rick Scott on Wednesday, March 16, 2016
