Presidential candidates and possible candidates gathered in Orlando Tuesday for a summit organized by Gov. Rick Scott to talk about his signature topic: Jobs and the economy.
“I asked all of them to come to Florida to talk about one thing: How do we turn around the nation’s econ and do what we’ve done in Florida?” Scott said.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio participated in the summit. Rubio appeared on a video instead of in person because of votes in Washington, D.C.
“One of them will likely be our next president,” Scott said when asked about the large Republican field of possible contenders and whether he thought the ones invited to the summit had the best shot at winning.
Several hundred business people attended the summit. They were invited by Scott, as it wasn’t open to the public. “I think they’re auditioning not only for votes but for a large part it’s auditioning for the money and influence in this room that the governor’s put together today,” said Joe Gruters, vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida and chair of the Sarasota Republican Party.
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