GOP gubernatorial candidates Rick Scott and Bill McCollum rode into Miami-Dade on Wednesday where both engaged in vigorous campaign exercises. Each used the opportunity to hurl harsh criticisms at the other.

Touting his 7-7-7 plan which calls for 7 steps to 7000,000 jobs over a seven year period, Scott said "My 7-point plan isn't complex; in fact, it's based on proven common sense business principles. I am the only candidate with a proven record of creating private sector jobs and my comprehensive 7-7-7 plan will put our financial house in order, balance the budget, and create the jobs Floridians desperately need.

As reported in The Miami Herald, Scott had previously accused McCollum of mimicking his calls to crack down on illegal immigration.

Not to be outdone, McCollum whose platform includes "job creation to get Florida's economy back on track," had the following posted on his website: "Today, Rick Scott told Florida voters he wanted to be Florida's Chief Economic Development Officer - blatantly and unapologetically plagiarizing Bill McCollum's comments from an April 15 announcement made alongside Steve Forbes. Apparently Rick Scott thinks spending more than $25 million on misleading TV ads can gloss over a detail-free, partially plagiarized announcement masquerading as an original economic plan."

With the upcoming August 24th primary only a month away, both candidates are campaigning vigorously in an effort to significantly energize voters. But ongoing negative campaigning has ostensibly turned off many of the same people they are trying to court.

According to Public Policy Polling (PPP), 41% of Florida voters have an unfavorable opinion of Scott, and 51% have an unfavorable opinion of McCollum. Further, 40% of registered Republicans have an unfavorable opinion of McCollum, and 30% have an unfavorable opinion of Scott.

Public Policy Polling  president Dean Debnam emphasized that "voters hate negative campaigning, and at this rate no matter which candidate the Republicans nominate, they will enter the general with baggage too heavy to lose."

But how is Democratic front-runner Alex Sink faring? According to recent polls, Sink is benefiting considerably from the mud-slinging between the two Republican candidates. She leads Rick Scott 36:30 and Bill McCollum 37:23.

The numbers show Sink as being the clear front-runner, but ironically, she is the least known candidate. Public Policy Polling reported that 54% of Florida voters do not know enough to form an opinion, and 49% of Florida Democrats are unsure of their opinion of her. Only 33% have a favorable opinion.

Also in the race is Bud Chiles who is running as an Independent. He lists his top priorities as accountability, community, education and job opportunity. Chiles has garnered less than one-sixth of the vote according to Public Policy Polling.

To learn more about the candidates, please visit their respective websites below:

Bud Chiles: http://walkwithbud.com/

Bill McCollum: http://billmccollum.com/

Alex Sink: http://www.alexsink2010.com/

Rick Scott: http://www.rickscottforflorida.com/