Posted on 09/01/2010 7:07:28 PM PDT by Brandonmark
State Rep. Jennifer Carroll will be announced as Rick Scott’s running mate this morning during a news conference in Jacksonville.
A source close to the campaign confirmed to The Times-Union Wednesday night that Carroll, of Fleming Island, is the choice.
Neither Scott nor Carroll could be reached for comment.
The news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. outside Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Carroll is a Navy veteran and has represented parts of Clay and Duval Counties since 2003.
Many politicians from around the area say that politically, the 51-year-old lawmaker makes sense as Scott’s running mate.
“I just really think she adds a lot to the ticket. She is African-American, she is a female, and she is really sharp,” said state Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville.
Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, said her background working the halls of the Legislature makes her a good pick.
“The governor runs the executive [branch], but it would be a great advantage if the lieutenant governor knows the legislature,” he said.
Carroll served as the deputy majority leader in 2003 and as the House majority whip, or the party’s chief vote counter, from 2004 to 2006.
She had been a supporter of Scott’s primary opponent, Bill McCollum. Carroll served as chair of the African-Americans for McCollum steering committee and was in attendance at a recent McCollum rally in Jacksonville.
After a brutal primary, Scott could send a message that no bad blood remains by adding a McCollum supporter to his ticket.
“It can’t hurt. I mean, it seems that fences are mended at the top of the party. That may not be the case at the bottom,” said Aubrey Jewett, a political scientist at the University of Central Florida.
(Excerpt) Read more at jacksonville.com ...
PING to a good article.....
WOW!
Now that one caught me by surprise, a pleasant one I might add. Jennifer came the closest of all past challengers to unseat Corrine! from her perch in Fredonia. Very capable, articulate and deliberative lady.
WOW!
Very impressive choice, reminds me how I felt when McCain chose Sarah Palin.
But, I thought there were no black Republicans?/s
SHAMWOW!!!!!!
TOTALLY AWESOME!!!
SHE IS FABULOUS!!!
OOOORAH!
File this under trivia:
Here is a link to a recent article about her son playing for the Miami Dolphins.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/20/1784108/becoming-something-special.html
I got to see Jennifer Carroll in action during the two years I covered the Florida Legislature (As far as I could tell, I was the sole conservative member of the Capitol Press Corps, and a more nasty, snarky, self-satisfied bunch of hacks you couldn’t imagine).
Jennifer Carroll is going to be a great running mate for Scott. I never to interview her one-on-one but I heard her in a lot of committees, and she was always poised, prepared, and asked good questions.
She also continues one of our more cherished GOP traditions — she’s quite an attractive woman.
God bless the black conservatives. May they someday lead their people out of exploitation by the Left. As the Beck rally proved, we will be waiting eagerly for them to come across to our side — but obviously that has to be their decision.
"State Rep. Jennifer Carroll will be announced as Rick Scott’s running mate Thursday morning during a news conference in Jacksonville."
Wow x2, this just keeps getting better and better. It will also likely go unnoticed that race and gender are almost forgotten in the reaction other than to be noted as icing on the cake. Isn’t that the way it is supposed to be? Look who walks the walk /rhetorical
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