Rick Scott names state Rep. Jennifer Carroll as running mate

Jennifer Carroll of Jacksonville will be Rick Scott's running mate for governor.

Scott spent Thursday traveling the state introducing Carroll to voters.

While many Republicans are praising Scott's choice, analysts said the choice may not materialize into many more votes.

Scott has chosen the first female black Republican ever elected to the Florida House to be his running mate for the state's top job.

Many are calling it an historic choice.

"That just shows Rick Scott's visionary, bold leadership," Carroll said.

Born in the West Indies, Carroll, 51, moved to Florida in 1986, spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy and was elected to the Florida House in 2003.

“She's lived the American dream,” Scott said. “She's worked her tail off. She has a great record in the Navy. She's been a very successful legislator. She's going to be a great partner.”

Carroll's name had been tossed around for quite some time now as a potential running mate.

“Yeah, yeah, it's a good choice," said former Republican congressman Lou Frey.

Frey said he's impressed with Carroll's record, but said don't put too much stock into the choice would mean many more votes for the health care executive.

"You vote for the president not the vice president, except in limited circumstances,” Frey said. “And you also vote for the governor not the lieutenant governor. The impact is there but it will probably be a small impact."

The Scott-Carroll ticket will be hitting the campaign trail hard with one universal message.

"We’re going to do exactly what we did  in the primary and that's find ways to get this state back to work," Scott said.

Meanwhile, on the Democratic side of the race, attorney and former state Sen. Rod Smith teamed up with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink.