Florida Governors Debate Tonight on CNN
COSTELLO: Who could forget a flap over a fan thrust the Florida governor's race into the national spotlight? This electric fan, there it is, was used by Democratic candidate and former Florida governor Charlie Crist in an attempt to keep from sweating during a recent debate. But that did not sit well with his Republican rival and current Florida governor Rick Scott. Scott refused to come on stage, saying the fan violated debate rules. Well, tonight, the men will square off again in their third and final debate hosted by CNN. Joining me now from Jacksonville with a preview is CNN's Suzanne Malveux.. So come on, is the fan going to make another appearance?</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, I guess that's why in some ways we are here to watch and see what happens with this fan. I mean, he had it back since 2000 when he ran for the education commissioner. So I don't know, but we're going to be looking for it. One of the other reasons why we're here, Carol, of course, is because the Florida is the largest swing state in the country. This is the most expensive midterm race. We're talking more than $62 million in ads alone for those candidates, and also who wins the governor position here, the seat, will largely depend and impact who becomes our next president in 2016.</s>MALVEAUX (voice-over): In Florida, it's the battle between the current governor and former governor. The incumbent Republican Rick Scott fighting for a second term.</s>GOV. RICK SCOTT (R), GOVERNOR: Charlie is a good talker. He's slick, he's polished, he's smooth, but not happens when he was governor. He had this job before and he didn't do it.</s>MALVEAUX: His challenger, the one time Republican turned Independent turned Democrat, former governor Charlie Crist.</s>CHARLIE CRIST (D), FMR. GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA: Why we would reelect this guy if he's not willing to answer questions of everyday Floridians is beyond me. And that's why I don't think we're going to reelect this guy.</s>MALVEAUX: The biggest controversy from this contest which made national headlines came from a fan -- no, not a supporter, but an actual fan by Crist's feet at last Wednesday's debate.</s>MODERATOR: For that reason, ladies and gentlemen, I am being told that Governor Scott will not join us for this debate.</s>MALVEAUX: Debate organizers say Crist broke the rules by using the fan. The live audience waited seven minutes before Scott eventually showed up. Scott tried to downplay the incident which was widely spoofed as Fangate.</s>SCOTT: I don't care if he brings a microwave, if he brings a humidifier --</s>MALVEAUX: But back on the stump, Scott is getting big name support from probably the most popular Republican in the state, former governor Jeb Bush. Crist is also getting high profile backers, from First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.</s>JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He didn't lead the Republican, it left him.</s>MALVEAUX: On the air, both sides have also waged a tough and expensive fight, together spending more than $62 million in ads according to the non-partisan Center for Public Integrity. Most of it spent on negative ads.</s>AD NARRATOR: When Rick Scott cut education by over a billion dollars, thousands of them lost their jobs.</s>MALVEAUX: Republicans shot back with a web ad spoofing the popular reality TV show, "Say Yes to the Dress."</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I like the Charlie Crist. It's expensive and a little outdated, but I know best.</s>MALVEAUX: Carol, neither one of these guys is particularly popular here in the state. They have unfavorables hovering in the last CNN/ORC poll at 52 and 53 percent. But both of these men are in a dead heat for this race at 44 percent. They can't really stress enough, Carol, how this race could impact 2016. If you have the Democrat in the governor's house, in the mansion, then you are talking about, really, a good base for Hillary Clinton. Of course, if it's the Republican, then it sets it up quite nicely for a potential Republican Florida candidate, be it Marco Rubio or even a Jeb Bush. And as for the fan, because we got to go back to the fan and talk about it just a little bit, CNN does have some rules laying this out tonight. I want to read it to you here. It says no opening and closing statements, no notes, no props, and no electronic devices will be allowed on stage. So they get a notebook, they get a pen, they get some water. I don't know, though, Carol, I mean, could bit battery operated?</s>COSTELLO: I was going to say that!</s>MALVEAUX: We don't know. We just don't know. So we'll see.</s>COSTELLO: Oh, I think it quite aptly illustrates the state of our politics today. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much. You can watch tonight's debate between the Florida governor Rick Scott and the former governor Charlie Crist right here on CNN. Jake Tapper will host the one-hour event. It all kicks off at 7:00 p.m Eastern.