Senate Election 2018: Puerto Rico emerges as early flash point between Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson

Ledyard King
The News-Press
Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott is expected to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson next year.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., took jabs at each other Tuesday over the fate of Puerto Rico in what is shaping up to be an emotional flash point in this year's Senate election.

Nelson joined Democrats who continue to pillory Scott for comments the GOP governor made last week where he said he would not have done anything differently from the Trump administration in their response to Hurricane Maria and its deadly aftermath that left left parts of the island without electricity for months.

Nelson, speaking to reporters Tuesday, ridiculed Scott for his answer. 

"Really? after people still have no water? No electricity? No jobs? And he wouldn't do anything different?" Nelson said. "The answer is obvious."

Earlier Tuesday, Scott took a shot at the senator, harping on a campaign theme that Nelson has been in office for decades without major accomplishments to claim.

"Bill Nelson has been talking about Puerto Rico a lot this election year, and now that the Senate is back in session he has a chance to do something," Scott tweeted. "But does anybody really think he will end nearly 50 years of inaction?"

The volleys — not to mention the numerous visits to Puerto Rico each has made since Maria struck in September — suggest the political importance both candidates place on the U.S. territory. Scott's visit to Puerto Rico last week was his sixth since the hurricane.

The storm and its aftermath have prompted a migration of tens of thousands families from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland, many of them landing in Florida where relatives and friends populate the I-4 corridor from Tampa to Daytona Beach.

It's hard to know how many of them will vote in the 2018 election or for whom they will vote. Analysts say that while Puerto Ricans tend to be Democratic voters, many who come directly from the island lean independent and may be more interested in venting during the 2020 election when Trump will be on the ballot.

More:Poll finds Rick Scott leading in Senate race against Bill Nelson but contest still a virtual tie

More:Rubio presses White House to ramp up rescue of Puerto Rico

Each campaign has trotted out prominent island politicians to support their candidate.

On Monday, former Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Rosselló — and father of current Gov. Ricardo Rosselló — endorsed U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson for re-election.

"Well before the hurricanes devastated the island, Senator Nelson was instrumental in advancing the important issues of Puerto Ricans and all Floridians," Pedro Rosselló said. "For 18 years he has been both a friend and a champion of the people of Puerto Rico."

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

Puerto Rico's sitting Lt. Gov, Luis Rivera Marín, had a different take, tweeting praise for Scott.

"Since before Maria hit @FLGovScott has been working to support PR," Marín wrote on Twitter. "His presence has been felt and his action speak louder than words. I was with the Gov. today during his 6th visit and am disappointed to see his comments taken out of context for the benefit of a political attack."

Puerto Rico Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón, a fellow Republican, endorsed Scott’s bid for Senate last month at an event in Kissimmee, a Central Florida community that's home to a thriving Puerto Rican community.

Democrats are playing up the response Scott gave Thursday in San Juan when he was asked by local reporters what he would have done apart from the Trump to help Puerto Rico get through Maria which a new report suggests led to nearly 5,000 deaths.

"I don't know what I would have done differently. I've been governor (of Florida) for seven and a half years so I've had quite a few storms and other disasters. And what I've learned the most is you've got to tell everybody your problem and you've got to figure out how to communicate ... The more communication you have and the earlier you find a problem, the faster you can solve it."

Beyond the visits to Puerto Rico, Scott has won kudos for his administration's moves to welcome families who have left the island to resettle in Florida.