Romney keeps distance from controversial Florida governor

(CBS News) Like all presidential candidates, Republican Mitt Romney leans heavily on elected officials in key battleground states to help spread his message, but Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is off Romney's radar, reports Bloomberg News.

To date, Romney has not campaigned with Scott, and despite the importance of winning Florida, Scott's controversies, low poll numbers and even his "strangeness" has kept Romney out of sight of Scott.

Romney often relies on popular Republicans in key battleground states. During his "Every Town Counts" bus tour the past several days, several Republicans appeared at his side, including Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

Tom Slade, the former co-chairman of Scott's campaign and former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, told Bloomberg News, "I'd give [Scott] a B for governing. I'd give him an A for strangeness."

Scott's awkwardness, controversial policies including removing purging voters from the rolls, political gaffes including offensive comments regarding African Americans and an ongoing criminal investigation regarding missing e-mail has made Scott a political liability. Recent Quinnipiac polls show Scott has not surpassed a 41 percent approval rating.