GOP presidential candidates lobby Florida Republicans

ORLANDO -- Republican activists from across Florida gathered Friday for what amounts to job interviews by GOP presidential candidates.

Seven White House hopefuls are scheduled to address the Florida Sunshine Summit on Friday: Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Jeb Bush, Donald Trump, and, wrapping up a long day in the early evening, Ben Carson.

Another group of candidates speaks Saturday to the summit being held at a resort near Disney World.

Many of the Florida delegates -- including GOP office-holders, volunteers, and field organizers -- arrived Thursday for a series of rah-rah speeches at a kickoff event headlined by former vice president Dick Cheney.

While not making an endorsement of any specific candidate, Cheney said a Republican president is imperative because of the challenges facing the United States across the globe.

"It’s extraordinarily important that the Republican Party reclaim the reputation we’ve had most of our life that we’re the go-to guys on national defense," Cheney said at the Statesman’s Dinner, a fundraiser for the Republican Party of Florida.

Cheney, denounced by Democrats as too bellicose during his years as George W. Bush's vice president, did not shy away from his aggressive reputation. He took the podium as the PA system played the "Imperial March" from Star Wars -- also known as the Darth Vader theme.

Donors also head a preview speech from Rubio, who will be the first presidential speaker on Friday.

"You’re going to hear from a bunch of candidates running for president that are going to ask you to vote for them," Rubio said. "And I’ll be one of them."