Republicans train poll watchers in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — National Republicans are making a push to recruit volunteers from Tampa. They want them around during early voting and for Election Day.

Michael Whatley chairs the Republican National Committee and helped oversee a training, meant to teach volunteers what to look for while working the polls.

“Anytime a vote is being cast or anytime a vote is being counted, we want observers and attorneys in the room,” Whatley said.

Journalists and cameras were not allowed in that training.

“In terms of the people who show up to volunteer for it, to be able to go through that training, [we] don’t have to necessarily have that on-air. We will get that material to you,” Whatley said.

The RNC, along with the Trump-Vance campaign, have a goal of recruiting 100,000 volunteers nationwide. But they want to make sure 5,000 volunteers are in each battleground state. Florida is included.

Democratic Florida Rep. Fentrice Driskell, out of Hillsborough County, said this training sends the wrong message to voters.

“They have a playbook where they try to convince voters that elections are unsafe and that Florida has problems with elections,” Driskell said.

But national Republicans believe if they were not in the room for the Bush-Gore issue, the outcome would’ve been different.

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi also has a call for action.

“Be a poll watcher, be a poll worker, and if you’re an attorney, then we need you,” Bondi said.

Despite no evidence of widespread fraud in 2020, RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump said they need help protecting your vote.

“Half the country has questions about what happened in 2020,” Trump said.

National Republicans said Florida is safe for former President Trump and Sen. Rick Scott, but they are not taking any chances, especially for down-the-ballot measures.

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