More than 100 people packed the new offices of the Republican Party of Florida in Tampa Friday to celebrate the grand opening of the space donated by developer Don Phillips.

On hand were former state Rep. Sandy Murman and current state Rep. Rich Glorioso.

State party chairman Jim Greer used the opportunity to get the group fired up about John McCain’s candidacy. “If Obama is elected president of the United States you will hear a sucking sound as soon as he takes his hand off the Bible,” Greer said. “That will be the sound of our money going to the government.”

— Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer