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Scott, Crist Spending Battle Leads To Most Expensive Florida Race

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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – Florida's gubernatorial candidates differ on almost every single issue, including how they spent their campaign money down the stretch.

From October 18th through Oct. 30th, both Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist and closely tied political committees have combined to spend nearly $15.3 million. A new report shows they took completely different approaches in spending.

Scott's campaign and the "Let's Get to Work" committee focused on advertisements as they spent nearly $8.68 million in that time span.

As an example, the Scott campaign and the committee sent $5.18 million to the Virginia-based Multi Media Services Corporation for advertising, according to finance reports filed Friday. Let's Get to Work, meanwhile, also sent $1.076 million to the Republican Party of Florida.

Crist's campaign and the "Charlie Crist for Florida" committee combined to spend about $6.61 million during the period. About $5.1 million was sent to the Florida Democratic Party, for things such as get-out-the-vote efforts.

These latest numbers add to the most expensive race in Florida history.

CLICK HERE To Watch Eliott Rodriguez's Report 

Republican and Democratic candidates for statewide and legislative offices and their political parties in the 2014 election cycle raised a staggering $345 million, according to analysis by the Herald/Times and the Washington-based Center for Responsive Politics.

Republicans, including candidates and the state party, raised about $209.5 million and directed at least half of it to re-electing Scott.

Democrats raised about $136.8 million this cycle, steering most of it into the election of Crist, the former GOP governor and now Democrat who is attempting to reclaim his old job.

Massive checks have been coming from all over the place throughout the race.

The largest single out-of-state contributor was Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino magnate and owner of the Las Vegas Sands, has given $7.5 million. Most of the money went to opposing Amendment 2 on medical marijuana.

Orlando Attorney John Morgan, who wants Amendment 2 passed, has spent $6.5 million.

George Soros, the wealthy left-leaning investor, gave the Florida Democratic Party $1 million in the final days of the election.

More than $3 million has come from the state and federal unions — nearly all of it steered to the party and Democratic candidate for governor, Charlie Crist.

Charter schools raised $272,000 for Republicans and the Washington-based school-choice advocacy group, the American Federation for Children Action fund, gave the GOP and its candidates $596,000.

CBS4's news partner the Miami Herald sites fewer competitive legislative races in 2014 than in 2012 and 2010, has led to more resources for the gubernatorial candidates.

"The News Service of Florida and the Miami Herald contributed to this report."

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