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In an attempt to pull black and women voters away from his political rival, Republican nominee for Governor Rick Scott has selected the only black Republican in the legislature. As Whitney Ray tells us, Democrats say they’re not worried, because candidates, not race or gender will win the election.

In a move that some say smells of political calculation and insider strategy, self-proclaimed outsider Rick Scott picked a running mate to help pull votes from the other side.

Scott won the Republican nomination by labeling his opponent and party officials as the ultimate insiders. But just days after the election Scott made nice with the party and now he’s named a legislator and former department head as his running mate.

Scott picked Jennifer Carroll Thursday. Carroll could pull black voters and women away from Democratic Alex Sink, although Sink’s not buying it.

“I think people, when they go to vote, they are passed all these gender and racial issues. They are really looking at the candidates,” said Sink.

One in five Florida voters is black, but just two percent of them are Republicans.
Republican strategists say Carroll brings more to the ticket than just her gender and race. They say her service in the Navy and years as a small business owner will play well in the campaign.

But one part of her story she won’t be telling on the campaign trail is how she made headlines in 2004. Carroll told GOP insiders that Hillary Clinton should take in a play at Ford’s Theatre, the same sight where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

“That was not my inference nor was it my intent, that was the reporters spin,” said Carroll back in 2004.

Carroll does bring a North Florida presence to the Republican ticket; also her son is a Miami Dolphins football player which could attract some fans to the polls. Carroll is a member of the NAACP and the NRA. In 2009, she was named legislator of the year by the Florida Veterans Service Association. She’s 51 years old and has three sons.