Rick Scott Almost Bailed on Televised Debate Because Charlie Crist Got a Fan Onstage

Long before they could tackle issues like Florida's economy, education funding or crime rates during tonight's televised debate, Gov. Rick Scott took a proud stand on a far more important issue: Charlie Crist's fan. Crist, for the uninitiated, has always insisted on having a fan blowing his direction during live...

By Tim Elfrink

October 15, 2014

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Long before they could tackle issues like Florida's economy, education funding or crime rates during tonight's televised debate, Gov. Rick Scott took a proud stand on a far more important issue: Charlie Crist's fan.

Crist, for the uninitiated, has always insisted on having a fan blowing his direction during live appearances. He got one under his podium for tonight's debate at Broward College. Scott -- the governor of our fine state -- retaliated by refusing to come out for tonight's debate. Really!

UPDATE: Here's video of the truly strange situation. (H/T to Random Pixels.)

Enjoy the meltdown in real time:

#breaking Gov. Rick Scott will not participate in the #FLdebate @WLRN pic.twitter.com/Wg82ewElcr
— Jessica Meszaros (@JMMeszaros) October 15, 2014

.@CharlieCrist is getting heckled. Moderator says rules say no fan. #FLGovDebate #fangate
— Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) October 15, 2014

"Are we really going to debate about the fan? Or are we going to debate education, and the issues?" - Charlie Crist #FLGovDebate
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) October 15, 2014

Bizarre.
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 15, 2014

.@CharlieCrist wants to go on. Hecklers screaming turn off fan. Panelists debating rules. Screaming from crowd. pic.twitter.com/SlRf3z2os7
— CBS4 Miami (@CBSMiami) October 15, 2014

"Ladies and gentlemen, that has to be one of the most unique beginnings to a debate" Elliot Rodriguez, debate moderator sums it best
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 15, 2014

Fan at Charlie Crist's feet keeping Gov. Scott of debate stage. @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/IQsxmMtmLg
— Steve Litz (@SteveNBC6) October 15, 2014

Eventually, Scott dropped his protest -- which apparently rested on a ban on "electronic devices" on stage -- and came out to debate.

OK, that was just bizarre. But Crist got to keep his fan. (Never let them see you sweat. ) #nextflgov debate / Brit
— Broward Politics (@browardpolitics) October 15, 2014

Crist, of course, wasted no time getting in a dig at the governor in his first answer:

"Governor, it's good to have you with us now," @CharlieCrist says to open debate, without addressing #fangate. #FLGovDebate
— Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) October 15, 2014

Florida! The magic never ends.

Maybe we should install some fans at the Governor's Mansion to keep Scott out of there, too.
— Alfred Spellman (@AlfredSpellman) October 15, 2014

UPDATE: In case you really need to know who was right about fangate, it sure looks like Crist's signed debate rules included a handwritten agreement to let him use the fan:

Debate rules we signed. #FlaPol pic.twitter.com/06A33MPjRa
— Kevin Cate (@KevinCate) October 15, 2014

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Tim Elfrink is a former investigative reporter and managing editor for Miami New Times. He has won the George Polk Award and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Contact: Tim Elfrink

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