WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott has been re-elected, major newspapers projected on Tuesday, defeating former Governor Charlie Crist after a combative campaign.

Both candidates struggled with low popularity during the contest that featured months of attack ads on both sides. Mr Crist, 58, is a former Republican who ran as a Democrat. Scott, 61, portrayed Mr Crist as a careerist and supporter of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.