Pence, Rubio hold 'Victory Dinner' in Tampa
TAMPA (FOX 13) - The final weekend before the new deadline for Floridians to register to vote brought two big name politicians to Tampa.
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence and Senator Marco Rubio spoke at the annual "GOP Victory Dinner" on Saturday at the downtown Tampa Hilton. Nearly 700 people attended the $250 per person dinner.
Pence encouraged the large crowd of Bay Area residents to show their support for conservative candidates at the polls. Voter registration was extended to October 18 due to Hurricane Matthew.
"Florida always plays an enormously important role in the nation's destiny…but this year it maybe more important than ever before," said Pence.
Pence campaigned in Pensacola and Miami on Friday, where he spoke on Donald Trump's most resent controversy involving sexual assault allegations from multiple women. Pence did not speak on the two new accusers coming forward, claiming in 2003 and 2007 they were kissed or groped by the presidential candidate.
"Despite the avalanche of insults coming out of the other campaign, this election is really about security and prosperity," said Pence.
He also did not touch on a new radio advertisement airing Saturday accusing him of voter suppression in his home state of Indiana. The ad was created by Patriot Majority USA, an advocacy group backed by one of the Super PACs that supports democratic candidates.
In the ad, the group claims Pence led a police raid of an Indiana voter registration office. Officers seized voter applications following allegations of voter fraud. The ad claims that 45,000 citizens, primarily African Americans, will be unable to vote come November 8, since their paperwork will not be processed.
Both Pence and Rubio spent Saturday trying to focus on the issues they say matter most to conservative voters.
"We need your help, obviously in the presidential race, but we need your help in the Senate race, and for the congressional races, and for the State House and for the State Senate. We need people who believe in limited government and free enterprise, and strong national defense at every level of government," said Marco Rubio.
"If you cherish the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America, if you cherish all the God-given liberties enshrined there, if you cherish the principals of limited government, then men and women in Florida, we must decide here and now that the next president to make appointments to the Supreme Court of the United States will be President Donald Trump," said Pence.
Trump spent Saturday campaigning in New Hampshire. Hillary Clinton, who was in Washington state, took a day off from the campaign trail. Both candidates will face off again for a presidential debate on Wednesday, October 18, at the University of Nevada.