26 Tea Leaders Endorse Rick Scott for Governor

Twenty-six leaders from more than a dozen tea parties and "patriot" groups across the state on Thursday endorsed Rick Scott for governor.

The endorsements aren't a huge surprise, given the tea/patriot leanings toward Scott's conservative agenda. But it's significant since at least some of the endorsers had previously supported Scott's primary rival, Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Don Hensarling, Florida state director of the "9/12 Project," was among them. Among others listed were Tom Gaitens, Florida state director of FreedomWorks.org and Tom Tillison and Jason Hoyt from Orlando area Tea groups.

Robin Stublen, a Tea Party activist from Punta Gorda, said the group offered its "unequivocal vote of confidence" for Scott.

The Florida TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party endorsed Scott days before the primary election.

Here are the signers of today's announcement:

Tom Gaitens Florida State Director FreedomWorks.org
Robin Stublen Founder Punta Gorda Tea Party
Don Hensarling Florida State Director 9/12 Project
Billie Tucker First Coast Tea Party
Sharon Calvert Tampa-Tea-Party.com
Karen Jaroch Tampa 9/12 Project
Jason Hoyt Central Florida Tea Party
Nancy Meinhardt Miami 9/12 Project
Elaine Laffey
Tom Tillison Orlando Tea Party
Karin Hoffman D.C. Works for Us
Tina Woode Lake Mary/Sanford 9/12
Marian Rowe Brevard 9/12
Bill Landes Florida MinuteMen
Mel Coppi Deltona 9/12 Project
Kathy Gibson
Barb Haselden S. Pinellas 9/12
Paula Helton Gainesville Tea Party
Kim Irvine Tampa 9/12 Pasco Chapter
Daniel Diaz Young Americans for Freedom
Kathleen Waligore Tampa 9/12 Project
John Hendrix Tampa-Tea-Party
Pamela Evans D.C. Works For Us -- Aventura
Alan Berkelhammer Gainesville Tea Party
Pat Wayman Venice 9/12
Don Forward Titusville Patriots

Disclaimer: these leaders sign with a personal endorsement, not that of their organizations.