Campbell advocated for a reduction of backlogs in the state's court system by hiring more prosecutors and public defenders and creating rehabilitation and pre-trial diversion programs, while McCollum argued for a limitation on lawsuits. The Terri Schiavo case was a major issue during the campaign, with McCollum attacking Campbell for changing his position on state intervention in the Schiavo case. Campbell said that, as a Catholic and as a moderate Democrat, he was "desperate to find a way" to intervene in the case, but could not find a constitutional way to do so. He, in turn, attacked McCollum for his record in Congress, where he sponsored legislation that would have removed "whistle-blower protections in Medicaid fraud cases," and for working a lobbyist representing large corporations. Campbell was endorsed by the "Sarasota Herald-Tribune" once again, which argued that he was "more familiar with state issues than McCollum," and that his "philosophy is representative of mainstream Florida." He was also endorsed by the "Tallahassee Democrat", which noted that, although the two candidates were alike, Campbell "deserves to be the state's top law-enforcement official because of his proven ability to foster bipartisanship and his record in private life as a top-flight attorney." Ultimately, however, McCollum narrowly edged out Campbell, winning with 53% of the vote to Campbell's 47%.