Attitude

Rick Scott is an admirer of the other Rick — fellow Republican governor and now presidential candidate Rick Perry. Perry is an aggressive corporate recruiter who personifies a less-tangible Lone Star business asset, articulated by observers both here and there as simply, "attitude." Perry actively recruits employers from other states to move to Texas — whether or not they are looking. He has honed in on California companies particularly, urging them to consider relocating from a state that causes "undue burden and taxation on companies" to "America's new land of opportunity: The state of Texas."

Scott thinks Florida can do some poaching too. "We've got many inherent economic advantages over almost every other state, and we've got a lot of inherent advantages over Texas," says Scott. "But we really need to sell ourselves as well as Texas sells itself. I think it starts with just our attitude."

Texas swagger as a business asset: Gov. Rick Perry is an aggressive corporate recruiter, urging California companies to bail out of a state that causes "undue burden and taxation" and move to "America's new land of opportunity." [Photo: Jon M. Fletcther, left; Office of Gov. Rick Perry, right]

Tags: Politics & Law, Around Florida, Government/Politics & Law