The Hill News

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) doesn't think that Texas Gov. Rick Scott's (R) criticism of Social Security will hurt his presidential campaign.

Asked about whether Perry's comments that Social Security is a "monstrous lie" and a Ponzi scheme" Scott said he didn't think that Perry's criticism would hurt his chances.

"I don't think it's a problem," Scott said on MSNBC. "I think everybody realizes it's an issue that we have to deal with. It's no different than what the states do the pension, what the cities and counties do with their pensions. Everybody knows all these retirement plans, we've got to make sure that they're funded."

Scott said that he didn't think the Republican presidential candidates' stance son Social Security would decide who gets nominated. 

"I don't think that's going to decide who's going to be the nominee," Scott said.

In terms of which of the Republican presidential candidates could win Florida'! s coveted vote in a general election, Scott said either former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) or Perry could win the Sunshine state. 

"I think both of them would win Florida in a  general. I think they both are focused on jobs," Scott said. "Both of them have had success with jobs. One as a governor, the other one more in business so both of them would be good candidates.

Social Security has increasingly become a major topic of debate between Romney and Perry, the frontrunners in the Republican primary thus far. In a debate in Florida on Monday Romney quickly hit Perry on Perry's past statement on Social Security, citing Perry's book Fed Up! in which Perry called it a Ponzi scheme. Romney said Social Security needed to exist.

"That view, and the view that Social Security has been forced upon us the last 70 years…that's a very different matter," Romney said at the debate.

In response, Perry didn't walk back his comments.

"If what you’re trying to say is back in the '30s and '40s the federal government made all the right decisions I disagree with you," Perry said.