Tides bring oil _ and resentment _ to Florida, lone Gulf holdout on offshore drilling

In Fla., resentment washes ashore along with oil

PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. — For decades, billions poured into Gulf Coast states that allowed oil drilling off their shores. Economies grew, jobs were created and millionaires were born all along the waterfront. Everywhere, that is, except Florida.

People of all political stripes largely banded together in the Sunshine State, united in opposition to offshore drilling and confident the peninsula’s $61 billion tourist-driven economy hinged on a pristine environment. Fearing the doomsday an accident could bring — or simply the sight of rigs from beaches — Florida rejected drilling.

But doomsday came anyway.

As Floridians see their white sand beaches getting fouled by the spill, many are angry at their Gulf Coast neighbors.