Scott: Trump understands voters’ frustrations

FORT MYERS, Fla. – While not endorsing a presidential candidate, Gov. Rick Scott provided insight into Donald Trump’s sustained lead in the polls in an opinion piece published in the nation’s most circulated newspaper.

Scott, in a piece published in Wednesday’s USA Today, compared himself to Trump, as a political outsider, when he became governor in 2010. Scott also included presidential candidate and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney, in his comparison but focused most of his writing on Trump.

“Voters have been choosing new ideas and new energy over the old formula of sheer time served in political office,” Scott wrote.

Trump’s continued lead in the polls is due to his ability to speak to people’s frustrations, Scott wrote.

“I think he is capturing the frustration of many Americans after seven years of President Obama’s very intentional government takeover of the American economy,” he said. “Have you tried to start a business recently? That used to be the American dream. But, after seven years of endless and tedious regulation and taxation, it is nearly unaffordable to do so. Americans are mad, and I agree with them.”

Scott blamed federal regulation and taxes for steering the country “onto the wrong course” and hopes the next president has “a believable plan for robust job creation.”

“It is my hope that every Republican presidential candidate will become laser-focused on job creation because I want our next president to be a Republican, and I want them to eliminate the regulations and taxes that are poisoning our country’s future,” Scott wrote.

Scott said he doesn’t plan to endorse a presidential candidate before the state’s March primary.