TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign is disputing the cause of a delay in Wednesday’s night televised debate with former Gov. Charlie Crist.
Crist was alone on stage for nearly 10 minutes at the debate’s start. Moderators told the audience Scott was refusing to take part because Crist had an electric fan under his lectern. Moderators said they’d been told Scott considered it violated the rule prohibiting the use of electronic devices.
In an email to campaign supporters hours after the debate, Scott’s campaign manager said Scott “never refused to take the stage.” Melissa Sellers says the campaign wasn’t notified that Crist had taken the stage. She says they were told Crist was talking with debate organizers about the fan.
Scott’s late entry prompted ridicule and attention nationally and on social media.
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