7 takeaways from Rick Scott, Michael Waltz, Cory Mills comments at Volusia GOP event

Just hours after the dramatic exit of President Joe Biden from the 2024 campaign, some 700 Volusia County Republicans gathered at the Ocean Center for the Lincoln Day Dinner, an extension of last week's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and got in some final jabs at the outgoing president.

Here are seven takeaways from the event.

Republicans say they're ignited

Rep. Tom Leek, in a heated primary race for state senate against former St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar and former professional athlete Gerry James, was a delegate in Milwaukee, and one of several Republicans to talk about the July 13 assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

“I think it certainly stirred something in me that I didn’t quite know existed or understand. I think it stirred something in a lot of us," Leek said. "It made us as passionate as we could ever be about making sure that we elect a Republican president, and Donald Trump as president.”

Biden left the race; some say he should also exit the Oval Office

Prior to Sunday's dinner, the two congressmen who represent Volusia County, Michael Waltz and Cory Mills, both suggested that Biden should not only be out of the 2024 race, but he should depart the White House six months before his term ends.

Leek joined them, saying the Biden Americans saw at the now-infamous June 27 debate didn't come as a shock to Republicans.

"... Amazingly, it was a shock to a great part of the nation, but if you’re not competent enough to run for president, then how can you continue to be competent enough to act as president?" he asked.

Turning 'democracy' argument around

For three-plus years, Democrats have accused Republicans of being anti-democratic because of their refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election won by Biden. Waltz suggested that by pushing Biden out, Democrats ignored the will of primary voters who nominated Biden.

"It’s pretty amazing now to see after three years of being lectured as the party of democracy, that you just witnessed history. Of watching Pelosi, the Clintons, the Obamas and some rich donors stage a coup," Waltz said. "I mean, they just pushed him out. Don’t ever, ever let a Democrat lecture you about democracy again. Fourteen million votes just went poof in a back room.”

Waltz indicted Vice President Kamala Harris and others in Biden's circle.

“Either they knew all along and covered it up and let the world get lit on fire by utter incompetence or vacancy in the White House or they really didn’t know, had their head in the sand and they’re willing to take out a president because of a debate and some polls," he said. "Either one is really pretty bad. Which is it? We’re not going to let them forget it. In the end it doesn’t matter. Donald Trump is going to wipe the floor with them.”

'Divine intervention' and Christianity's role in GOP

Mills described the United States as "one nation under God," with a Judeo-Christian foundation of beliefs where rights are "God-given."

And he talked about how Trump's survival echoed Ephesians 6:11, which says the reader should wear "the armor of God" to fight against Satan's evils.

It was 6:11 p.m. when Trump was shot.

"If you can’t understand what a divine intervention this is, you can’t understand the millimeters and milliseconds of change that would have made this from an attempt to an assassination, as President Reagan would say, you’re just not looking,” Mills said.

Earlier, state Rep. Chase Tramont, an ordained minister, was called upon for the evening's invocation.

He prefaced it with a declaration about what the November election means to him.

“So while the left has sought to mainstream lawfare and lunacy, Nov. 5 is our time to mainstream law, liberty and the Lord Jesus Christ in this country.”

Digs at Biden

There was no grace period for Biden, who Democrats had said was putting the country ahead of himself by stepping aside amidst growing questions about his health and capacity to serve four more years as president.

He was the butt of jokes all night.

U.S. Sen. Scott said he's traveled all of Florida's 67 counties in the last eight months and found people are "fed up" with the federal government.

"Nobody’s out there saying, ‘Man, under Biden we feel really good.’ Nobody is. And Biden’s probably not. Although he probably doesn’t know,” Scott said.

Waltz made a reference to the 1980s comedy "Weekend at Bernie's," in which two guys attempt to convince others the dead host of their weekend party is actually alive. “I thought they were going to prop up Bernie all the way to the end."

Two seeking leadership roles

Mori Hosseini, chairman of ICI Homes and longtime Republican power broker, turned to Leek and said: “I’m going to say something, and you may hate me for this," he said. "If you elect Tom Leek for Senate, he will be Senate president.”

Leek was House Appropriations Committee chair and relishes the opportunities leadership brings to his district.

Scott endorsed Leek, saying: “I completely support Tom. I want him to win. But if Mori is right, OK, and he can become the Senate president, do you realize the impact that has on this area in the quality of governance you’re going to get from the state?”

Meanwhile, Scott said while he unsuccessfully challenged Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in 2022, he is running for that post again, and if the GOP wins back the Senate, he could become Senate president.

Trump legend-building

There were numerous examples of effusive praise for the 45th president, convicted felon and odds-on favorite to become the 47th president.

There was Trump the tough guy.

Leek: “What’s he, 78? Have you ever seen anybody that tough? I mean, literally jumped on by all kinds of Secret Service. You know, pushed his way up. It was just remarkable.”

There was Trump the editor.

Waltz, who was vice chair of the GOP platform committee, said Trump − on the day after his shooting − stayed up late the night before the platform was to be presented, whittling down an "82-page monstrosity" to 12 pages of easy-to-read, communicative pillars. "Talk about a man with a motor," Waltz said.

And Trump the deejay.

Waltz repeated much of his Wednesday night convention speech, which introduced the families of 13 U.S. service members who were killed during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The families, who had complained of being mistreated by Biden, had, through the help of Waltz, met with Trump, who gave them some six hours of his time, listening to them, comforting them and ultimately, hosting a dance party.

“I call him D.J. Trump: He takes out his iPad and he starts playing Sinatra, he starts playing James Brown. ... He had ‘em all dancing.

“I already admire and respect the guy," Waltz said. "Now I love that man. I truly love that man.”

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 7 takeaways: Volusia Republicans reflect after Trump shooting, RNC