For months, Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign and the Republican Party of Florida have flogged Charlie Crist for ducking Democratic rival Nan Rich. It’s fair game, but Crist has said for months he won’t debate Rich and give her the statewide exposure her low-budget campaign desperately needs.
The GOP launched a “Demand Charlie Crist do the right thing” online petition and a “Charlie’s debate clock,” counting the hours Crist avoided debating Rich.
Now, Scott has two opponents who have qualified for the Aug. 26 primary ballot. Unlike Rich, who was Senate Democratic leader, neither of Scott’s rivals, Yinka Adeshina and Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder, have held elective office.
Scott sidestepped the question of whether he would debate them. “I haven’t even met them yet,” he said.
Such a debate would be entertaining, at least. Adeshina sent a statement to The Buzz in which she said: “I was excited when Howard Dean became governor.”
Dean, a doctor, was Vermont governor before he ran for president and was Democratic national chairman. Adeshina’s point was that she’s a pharmacist and, like Dean, is in the health care field. But singing Dean’s praises is probably not a sure-fire way to get votes in a Republican primary in Florida.