Donald Trump draws bevy of Pensacola-area endorsements before rally

Donald Trump

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump‘s rally in Pensacola not only is expected to draw more than 10,000 participants Wednesday, it brought him six endorsements from area activists including the brother of “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough, his campaign announced Wednesday.

The rally’s warm-up speakers represent endorsements from the likes of businessman George Scarborough; the Rev. Carl Gallups; Second Amendment activist Clover Lawson; and veterans Terry Busbee Sr., Gary O’Neal and Capt. Allen Brady, in addition to Kathryn ‘Kat’ Gates-Skipper the first female Marine in combat operations. She had announced her endorsement previously

“It is my great honor to receive endorsements from each of these incredible people,” Trump said in a news release issued by his campaign. “Their support for my message and endorsement of my candidacy for President of the United States means so much to me, and with their help, and the help of so many great people in Florida and all over the country, we will make America great again!”

George Scarborough, a Pensacola resident and brother of former congressman and MSNBC “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough, is the owner of Scarborough Consulting and regional director of The Studer Group. Joe Scarborough has often commented during his show about his brother’s support for Trump.

Gallups is an author, radio and television talk show host and senior pastor of Hickory Hammock Baptist Church in Milton.

Lawson is a founding partner of Lawson & Palmer LLC. The campaign described as  one of the foremost women in the firearms industry, who represents world-class competitive shooters, as well as some of the best manufacturers in tactical gear.

Brady served 32 years in the Navy including four years at the Naval Academy, and spent six years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam’s infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp.

Busbee served multiple tours in Vietnam before moving into politics. He is leaving the Democratic Party to endorse Trump for president because “he’s the smartest man for the job,” according to the campaign release.

Retired Chief Warrant Officer Gary O’Neal was anArmy Ranger and president of the Worldwide Army Rangers Association. A biography titled “American Warrior: The True Story of A Legendary Ranger” detailing O’Neal’s extraordinary service was released in 2013.

Scott Powers

Scott Powers is an Orlando-based political journalist with 30+ years’ experience, mostly at newspapers such as the Orlando Sentinel and the Columbus Dispatch. He covers local, state and federal politics and space news across much of Central Florida. His career earned numerous journalism awards for stories ranging from the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster to presidential elections to misplaced nuclear waste. He and his wife Connie have three grown children. Besides them, he’s into mystery and suspense books and movies, rock, blues, basketball, baseball, writing unpublished novels, and being amused. Email him at [email protected].



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