VERO BEACH — Vice President Mike Pence will speak at a private fundraiser for Gov. Rick Scott's Senate campaign Thursday, according to Indian River County GOP Chairman Tom Lockwood.

Lockwood said Pence will appear on behalf of Scott, who has stepped aside from the campaign trail to focus on response to Hurricane Michael. The fundraiser is not open to the public.

A temporary flight restriction filed by the Federal Aviation Administration states "a VIP" will spend time at the Vero Beach Regional Airport and on John's Island before departing late Thursday. Only Pence and President Donald Trump qualify as VIPs under FAA standards.

Pence is scheduled to appear with Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis earlier Thursday in Jacksonville.

The Space Coast Young Republicans said on Facebook it was invited to attend a rally at the airport prior to the vice president's arrival and welcome him to Florida.

People interested in attending the rally must arrive no later than 4 p.m. in order to clear security, event organizers said.

Flight restrictions are in place for the airport 5:45 to 7 p.m., according to the FAA.

The restrictions move to the John's Island area 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and back to the airport again between 7:45 and 9 p.m., according to the FAA.

Pence fundraising

Pence has been fundraising on behalf of several Republican candidates across the country. He's scheduled to appear at events in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Iowa and Colorado this week.

He was scheduled to appear at an event in Port St. Lucie in July, but the group organizing the event postponed it after Pence had a scheduling conflict.

More: Mike Pence visit to Port St. Lucie postponed, says America First Policies

Scott is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Non-partisan political analysts and polling shows the race is neck-and-neck.

The vice president's visit comes the same week as former Vice President Joe Biden has toured the state, rallying on behalf of Nelson.

More: Joe Biden joins Sen. Bill Nelson in Tallahassee