GOP presidential candidates gather in Lake Buena Vista, praise Gov. Scott

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Republicans gathered at Walt Disney World where a half-dozen GOP presidential candidates are addressing an "economic summit" organized by Gov. Rick Scott.

The Tuesday forum was supposed to be the first event where former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio would share a stage in the state this year.

Rubio, however, was forced to cancel his in-person appearance late Monday to deal with the Patriot Act in Washington. He instead addressed the meeting in a recorded video message.

Bush headlines the program that also featured Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.

They're here looking for support, money, donors and to test the waters in the largest swing state: Florida.

"Anything I can do to suck up to him and his donors, by gosh, I'm going to do, so it's just as simple as that," Huckabee said of Scott.

His real interest in what's going on and being engaged with men and women no matter who they are or where they're from," said Perry.

"This is a governor, who when he ran for election, said, 'Here's what I'm going to do: We're going to put Florida back to work,' and here we are, and he has done exactly what he said," said Huckabee.

Florida will likely play a huge role in the upcoming presidential race, and insiders say Scott's support will be critical for raising money and winning the state.

"He's won, now, two elections, two tight elections," said Mike Haridopolos, former Florida Senate president. "He's got a great grassroots organization that he built up in his two election victories and as governor, he carries a lot of sway."

Not everyone was so welcoming, however, as protesters outside called the candidates out of touch with average Floridians.

Democrats are criticizing the event, saying Scott should be in Tallahassee working on the budget and not in Orlando.

Florida's primary is a winner-take-all contest, and Bush and Rubio are the favorites. But other Republicans are not likely to ignore Florida, because as the nation's largest swing state, it remains a key to winning the general election.

WFTV