Republicans gather in Orlando

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — The Republican Party of Florida is holding its biggest annual fundraiser with just more than a month to go before the state plays a key role in deciding the presidential election.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell will be the featured speaker at Thursday's dinner. Gov. Rick Scott and Congressman Allen West and Dan Webster will also speak at the event.

The dinner is sure to be a rallying cry to elect presidential nominee Mitt Romney and other Republicans on November's ballot.

Copyright The Associated Press

Florida's 29 electoral votes, the most of any battleground state, are considered a must to win the White House.