GOP candidates share pie, trade barbs, unite over the presidential election at rally

A gigantic American flag hung from a crane outside of Robarts Arena on Saturday and occasionally billowed with the summer breeze under a few storm clouds. Inside, the full force of the Republican Party’s power in Sarasota County was on display at the GOP Candidates Pie Rally.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) and State GOP Chair Evan Power joined dozens of prospective candidates for the County Commission, School Board, State House, U.S. House of Representatives, Charter Review Board, and Republican State Committee, who occupied booths in a tradeshow atmosphere.

With plenty of smiles and backslaps, they chatted with voters and handed out their campaign literature often just yards away from their opponents in the Aug. 20 primary election.

The non-candidates were not just there for the pie. They were the Republican die-hards, the ones to spend their Saturday morning at a political convention. Those Republicans sure to vote in the primaries.

The eyes of former President Donald Trump looked over the entire arena. His smile appeared on posters, cardboard cutouts, and pamphlets. One sign proclaimed “Trump: Yes. New World Gulags: No.” One man’s T-shirt proclaimed that the GOP has been “working to defeat liberals since 1854.”

Carol Caprio said support for Trump was crucial to card-carrying Republicans like herself. A volunteer with the local Republican Women’s Club, Caprio said the former president’s supporters have been galvanized by the criminal cases and recent assassination attempt against him.

“You think people were upset before? It’s even more so after everything they’ve done to him,” Caprio said.

The Trump Girl Shop sold red, white, and blue jewelry, wrist bands, and light-up cowboy hats. The top shelf featured concealed carry handbags.

A Charter Review Board candidate, Greg "Tex" Bukowski, wore a tie with the former president’s face and stood in front of a banner that declared “If you support Trump, you must support Tex.” A photo at his booth highlighted that he once stood behind Trump at a rally.

Even at the local level, Bukowski said, “It’s important to support Trump’s policies, so he isn’t alone on an island."

Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo was also in attendance as the only Republican on his board. His campaign volunteers handed out Trump signs to the attendees seated at the star-spangled folding tables during the candidate speeches.

State Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) was unable to attend the rally. County GOP Chair Jack Brill said that Tom Knight, the former county sheriff and a commission candidate challenging incumbent Neil Rainford, declined to speak.

However, with so many political rivals in the same room, the candidates did not spend the afternoon holding hands in a drum circle and singing kumbaya.

Michelle Pozzie is running against incumbent State Rep. James Buchanan (R-Sarasota) and attacked her opponent for not standing up for “medical freedom” and being against “keep the boys out of girls sports.” Buchanan's stump speech focused on his conservative record in Tallahassee as he seeks what would be his final term.

Charles Bear, director of tax operations for the Charlotte County Tax Collector, and County Commissioner Mike Moran traded barbs in their respective speeches before their head-to-head in the primary: Bear chastised Moran for having no experience with government tax collection, while Moran attacked Bear for being a registered Independent until recently.

Eddie Spier, a congressional candidate challenging U.S. Rep Vern Buchanan (R-Manatee), was dismissed from the venue by Brill after he yelled out at the end of his opponent's speech.

School Board Member Tom Edwards was also in the crosshairs of many speakers. Edwards is the only Democrat left on the ultra-conservative board, and GOP leadership made it clear in their addresses they want him gone.

Rick Scott appeared 30 minutes into the event under the brim of his signature Navy ballcap. The senator mingled with plenty of candidates and fans, surrounded by his aides - one of whom wore a hat with “Sidekick” stitched into the back.

Scott, along with Vern Buchanan and Rep. Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) are clear favorites for reelection. Their speeches toward the end of the rally indicated the rhetoric with which the GOP would now attack Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

“Joe Biden and Border Czar Kamala Harris are absolutely responsible for the invasion that we have in our southern border,” Steube said in a fired-up speech.

“When you look at Kamala's background, her record is the most liberal member in terms of the Senate and everything else, even further left than Bernie Sanders,” Buchanan said.

An Ideology–Leadership Chart from GovTrack ranked Harris as the 4^th most liberal U.S. Senator during her time in the chamber – behind Sanders, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon.

Scott described what he called two anti-conservative “dictatorships” in the Senate – one led by Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, and the other by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

The chamber’s most conservative senator, according to GovTrack, Scott declared he would again run to lead the Republican Senate. The senator laid out his vision of the country under another Democratic administration.

“Interest rates will probably be over 10 percent. Gas will probably be over 10 bucks. Men will win every NCAA womens sporting event. They won’t have to commit fraud to win elections anymore, because they’ll just let every illegal immigrant vote. D.C. will be a state, so it’ll be very difficult for us to ever control the Senate again. That’s where we’re going to be.”

As soon as Scott finished the outline of his hyperbolic prophecy, thunder bellowed outside of the arena.

Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @vanityhack

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota GOP holds election rally before August primary