Video from Friday's rally with Bobby Jindal, Rick Scott, and Jennifer Carroll

For those of you who couldn't make it out to the Orlando Executive Airport on Friday, here's some video of the speeches:


YouTube | Bobby Jindal at the Rick Scott - Jennifer Carroll Rally

YouTube | Rick Scott's Speech

It was a great event, and I was so excited to get to meet Bobby Jindal.  He is very sincere in person.  Jindal got a very warm and enthusiastic reception here in Orlando, and I heard a lot of people telling him they were proud of how hard he was working for the people of Louisiana, dealing with all the challenges they've faced in the past few years, and you could see on Jindal's face that he truly appreciated the comments.

...still looking for the stupid cord for my camera to download my pictures.from the event.  Will post them when I find it!  And, good news, my new Blackberry is supposed to come in the mail next week, so I'll be able to upload pictures easier again. 

Bobby Jindal

...is a rock star. The camera on my blackberry picked a lousy day to stop working but I have my regular camera with me and will download the pictures later. I think the video is getting put on youtube and will post that link when I get it for y'all too. 

This is a fantastic event, the crowd is really fired up and excited for Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll. 

OK Jacksonville...they're heading your way!

Reminder! Come meet Bobby Jindal, Rick Scott, and Jennifer Carroll today!

Don't forget this exciting event today...Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, and Florida candidates for Gov. and Lt. Gov., Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll. 

TODAY AT 3 PM, at the Orlando Executive Airport.  Details available here.

I'll be there...will you?

Come see Bobby Jindal, Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll on Friday!

Here's something cool: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is coming to town on Friday, to help support our next Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll.

Here's all the details:

Friday, September 17, 2010 at 3 pm

Showalter Flying Service

Orlando Executive Airport

436 Rickenbacker Drive

Orlando, FL 32803

(Just South of intersection of Colonial & Rickenbacker)

Please RSVP to Anne@RickScottForFlorida.com with "RSVP" in the subject line.  Also, note that there was some confusion yesterday about this event...I've confirmed directly with the campaign, it is at the Showalter Flying Service at the Executive Airport (not the Showalter Field in Winter Park)

Here's the official event flyer with all the details (click to enlarge):

Hope you can join us on Friday!

Also, I've added a new feature to Sunshine State Sarah...an "Events" tab at the top of the page.  I get a lot of invitations to events and can't go to everything, but maybe I can share something that you might like to attend.  If you are organizing an event for a Republican candidate or conservative group, feel free to send it to me.  I can't promise I can post everything (I'm getting an insane amount of email lately) but I will try.

Thanks, hope y'all have a great week!  And make sure to come on out on Friday!

Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll in Orlando yesterday

For those of you who couldn't make it yesterday, here is a video of Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll's speeches:

YouTube | Rick Scott introduces Jennifer Carroll

Just like at the Republican Unity Rally on Monday, the room was standing room only, all the local press were in attendance, and the candidates received a very warm reception.  Highlights were the discussion of Scott and Carroll's common experience in the Navy and a clever joke at Charlie Crist's expense, when Carroll joked that Scott was running for Governor for the right reasons, not just to "punch a ticket to run for a Senate office."

Local Republican elected officials and candidates on stage to show support for Rick Scott and Jennifer Carroll

Also in attendance to show their support were Congressional candidates Dan Webster, District 8, and Sandy Adams, District 24; State Senators Thad Altman and Lee Constantine, State Representatives Eric Eisnaugle, Bryan Nelson, and Scott Plakon; Greg Reynolds, State House Candidate for District 36; and Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.  Most of these people endorsed McCollum in the primary but have now come together to support Scott.  Even Jennifer Carroll herself endorsed McCollum in the primary, but you can see that she and Scott are clearly on the same team now. In this video and others taken yesterday, you can see an easy rapport and friendly relationship between Scott and Carroll. 

I think it says something very positive about Scott that he has been able to rally all these people to his side so quickly and effectively.  I know many of our local Republican elected officials and candidates, and they are definitely independently minded, not some sheep who just blindly follow where the party tells them to go.  Especially because McCollum is from Central Florida, many of these people are personal friends of his, and were front line supporters of his candidacy.  Many of them spent little to no time with Scott before the primary; I, too, never saw him in person until after he was elected as the Republican nominee.  

Scott has won everyone over the old-fashioned way - by being humble, sincere, grateful, and focusing on solid, conservative, practical ideas around which Republicans can rally.  Our local Republican leaders are sincere in their support of Scott, and the addition of Carroll to the ticket has only increased their enthusiasm for the ticket.  

One more quick note: Ann Scott is just adorable.  After the speeches, everyone was coming up to shake her husband's hand, congratulate him on his great LG selection, and take pictures.  Mrs. Scott's deep love for her husband is obvious as she stands by his side, smiling and watching everything.  I thought it was sweet that she kept asking people, "Oh, do you want me in the picture too?"  She's clearly a very humble person, but is going to have to get used to people wanting her picture too.  If you see Ann Scott at an event, definitely go up and say hi, you'll enjoy meeting her.

Here I am with our future First Lady and Governor, Ann and Rick Scott

And the LG pick is...

...Florida State Representative, District 13, Jennifer Carroll!

Those of you who are not from the Jacksonville area may not yet know her.  I have not yet met her myself, but I'm looking forward to seeing her at the Beardall Senior Center at 2 pm today...


Anyway, here's what you need to know about Jennifer Carroll: She is awesome. 

Seriously.  There's obviously been a lot of speculation around the state over the past few weeks about who Scott would pick, and every time I've discussed the issue with anyone and Carroll's name was mentioned, all I heard was:

"Hey, she'd be a good choice!"

"Oh! I liiiiiiike her!"  
 "She'd be a real asset to the ticket!"
"Yeah! Great idea!"

Yesterday, I spoke with one of our local state representatives about Carroll and he described her as  "one of the nicest people you'll ever meet," adding that, "she has one of the best, most genuine smiles...it's been an absolute pleasure to work with her...she would be a fantastic LG."  Other people who have worked with her describe her as "smart, just so smart," "a wonderful friend," "one heck of work ethic,"  "someone who deeply cares about the people who she represents," and "a great Floridian...she has a brilliant future ahead of her."

Trust me, it is hard, if not darn near impossible, to forge a political career and not tick off a few people along the way.  The fact that I have yet to talk to anyone with anything to say about Jennifer Carroll that wasn't a glowing endorsement says a lot about what kind of person she is.  Contrast Carroll's reputation with what people say about Paula Dockery, who was rumored to be on the list at one point...there are a lot of people, especially in Central Florida, who are deliriously happy today that Dockery is not the LG pick.

Here's the basic biographical details about Jennifer Carroll:

Born in Trinidad, Carroll's life story is the kind that makes me just sniffly-mushball proud to be American.  I don't care how often I hear a story about someone who "moved here, worked hard, found success," I enjoy it every single time.

As a young woman barely 20 years old, Carroll enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1979 and served our country 20 more years, she was promoted up the ranks and earned a pile of medals and commendations.  She has lived in Florida since 1986.  She's a lifetime member of the NAACP and NRA.  (Man, I cannot wait to see the liberals tie themselves in knots trying to classify, stereotype, and denigrate her...I predict they will find it more difficult than anticipated.)

She's served in the Florida House of Representatives since winning a special election in 2003.  Her son Nolan played college football at the University of Maryland and just got drafted this year by the Miami Dolphins.  Oh, and according to her House Rep bio page, she likes making stained glass.  That's pretty neat.

Anyway, y'all come join me and meet your next Lieutenant Governor, Jennifer Carroll, today at 2 pm, Beardall Senior Center, 800 Delaney Ave.  It's a free event and everyone is invited.  Come early enough that you can make sure to find a decent parking spot. :)