Bill McCollum, Rick Scott Duel at GOP Meeting in Tampa

Republican gubernatorial contenders Bill McCollum and Rick Scott rallied supporters at the Republican Party meeting in Tampa Friday night.

Speaking in adjacent halls at the Grand Hyatt, the candidates were introduced by their wives and greeted by rousing crowds.

The McCollum crowd was larger and more energized. Former RPOF Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan warmed up the room while McCollum worked his way through the throng.

The attorney general, seldom confused with Bill Clinton on the campaign stump, came out firing on illegal immigration, supporting Arizona's tough new law and reminding the audience that he "fought to strike amnesty" from immigration bills when he was in Congress.

Frequently drowned out by cheers, McCollum did not reference Scott, who was speaking next door. Instead, he aimed his barbs at Alex Sink, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Scott's gathering was somewhat more low key, as was the candidate himself.

The 57-year-old multimillionaire was more folksy, reminiscing about his childhood, his truck-driving father, his summer jobs and his enlistment in the Navy.

"The American dream is slipping away," warned Scott, who pledged to "run the state for the benefit of the taxpayers -- not career politicians."

After a day of campaigning in the Tampa area on Friday, Scott planned to take Saturday off. McCollum was scheduled to give a brief talk at the RPOF meeting Saturday morning.