"Can you hear me?”

Several thousand enthusiastic Republican supporters reply, “Yes we can,” to the question from Gov. Charlie Crist.

“We’re very proud of Sarah Palin” for her debate performance Thursday, Crist says, adding, “We’re also very proud of the Tampa Bay Rays.”

He also introduces his two sisters and his fiancee, Carol Rome, with a very public, “I love you, baby.”

Indeed, the grandstands set up in Coachman Park for a select crowd of ticket-bering supporters is full of love this morning for all things Republican.

Standing in front of a grandstand full of people in red, white and blue, arranged to resemble the American flag, Crist exhorted the crowd to vote for John McCain and to “give Sarah Palin a warm Florida welcome.”

Palin is expected to arrive at 9 a m. and give remarks as the first stop on her Florida tour and head to Fort Myers after leaving Clearwater.

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