Florida Press, Leadership Florida cancel Scott-McCollum debate in Jacksonville
by Michael C. Bender | July 30th, 2010Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott, who in June demanded four debates with primary rival Bill McCollum, missed a 5:30 p.m. deadline on Thursday to accept the terms of what would be the rivals’ only meeting to be televised statewide.
“You might conclude as I have that Scott chose not to participate,” Florida Press Association CEO Dean Ridings said. “I’m not sure what the hangup was. The campaign would not officially discuss it.”
Scott and McCollum are scheduled for two debates: one on Monday at the Univision studio in Miami and the other Thursday at WTVT in Tampa. The Univision debate will air at 11 p.m. on the network’s stations in Miami, Orlando and Tampa. It was unclear if the WTVT debate would air anywhere outside of Tampa.
A third debate, hosted by the Florida Press Association and Leadership Florida, was scheduled for Aug. 11 in Orlando, but was moved to Jacksonville at the request of the Scott campaign. Scott’s camp then asked for the debate to be moved out of a TV studio and into a setting that would accommodate a large audience. The two host groups said they did not have the time or resources to grant that wish.
Ridings confirmed the groups were discussing another option, but would not announce anything until at least Monday.
But The Post has learned there are discussions to return the event to Orlando as scheduled. If Scott does not attend, McCollum would still field questions. One option being considered is for the panelists to use information from Scott’s previous interviews with newspaper and TV reporters to portray his position on issues. That raises the question, however, is McCollum would have to debate his own previous statements to the media.
Tags: Bill McCollum, debates, Rick Scott
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Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
July 30th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Scott is scared s*itless about having to answer direct questions about his role in the Columbia/HCA fraud in front of a statewide audience. Too bad most people have a computer and can read all about it themselves.
July 30th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Walter Martin Billy Mac said you can take off until the 25th of August, then you are fired! If you have seen McCollum like we did in the Villages, he will not address an open forum of questions directly from the audience! He wants a control question with pre-pared answers set up! RICK SCOTT just walks out of the podium mike in hand and takes all questions firectly from anyone. Recently at the Villages at a crowd of over 700, RICK SCOTT only had one McCollum heckler planted in the crowd! Rick is ready and willing to “debate” McCollum but, RICK SCOTT wants a live audience! An audience of just plain ole folks from every walk of life that wants to see their candidates up front and personal so they can decide who they want to “hire” for governor for the next four years! Is that asking too much! On the other hand McCollums handlers want a controll environment in a TV studio! I for one wish RICK SCOTT would rent a big auditorium somewhere and invite everyone to hear him speak! In person he is very inspiring and no doubt a great leader! Actually, Bill MCCollum supported RICK SCOTT when they were both fighting Obamacare together and when Scott was being attacked and trounced by idiots within the Clinton administration who could not dechpher the rules of medicare! It was only when RICK SCOTT decided to run for governor that McCollum decided he committed craud and was a crook and Lord only knows what all othre names he’s called RICK SCOTT! Little Billy is a poor looser! I don’t remember him having fits like these when Ric Keller beat him for his 20 yr conggessional seat!
July 31st, 2010 at 11:01 am
Blood Sport!
http://www.practicalstate.com/2010/07/31/blood-sport-the-race-for-florida-governor/
Cheers
July 31st, 2010 at 1:15 pm
Break Break!; News Flash!
Revolt Brewing Against Editor Pat Rice at Daytona Beach News-Journal?
Will Newspapers investigate their own?
Enquiring minds want to know
http://www.practicalstate.com/2010/07/31/revolt-brewing-against-editor-pat-rice-at-daytona-beach-news-journal/
Cheers
August 2nd, 2010 at 7:41 am
@Walter
Sir, you obviously have not seen Rick Scott in person. He is completely unphased by the Columbia/HCA question. He tackles it head-on and answers the question with eloquence and dignity. It’s so refreshing to find someone who will accept responsiblity rather than try to dodge the bullet for political expediency.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
I agree about Rick Scott, met him last week. He is an inspiring candidate. Not only did he accept all questions from the audience, he stayed afterward to meet people, answer individual questions, etc. He is able to articulate the principles which brought him success in business, and how they also apply to governing the state, and also education. The government is after all, a business. That is the problem, all these politicians with no business sense have gotten us into this terrible economy. You should go hear Scott’s remedy for the economic problems-he will be a great governor. It’s all on his website in the 7-7-7 plan.
August 6th, 2010 at 6:31 am
Nice pppost. If you are from Seminole County, FL and wondering about the school board election come to http://twitter.com/SeminoleGovNews.
August 14th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Why is it that the only choice we have to vote for is a liar and a criminal ???
Is there not an honest person willing to run for office. ??
August 14th, 2010 at 10:46 am
to Jack Grall above,
Are you an honest person? Have you read the posts above re: Rick Scott? Is there something you don’t understand? Not sure if you are referring to Scott as a liar or a criminal, but you obviously have not taken the advice of multiple posts above and gone to see the man. Ask him any question you want. I have seen him before a live audience twice now-he will entertain questions from anyone sitting there and he answers them candidly. Both places were packed. If you think you are better, smarter, more honest than Rick Scott, why don’t you get off your couch and run for office yourself? Our country and our state got into this mess because uninformed people continue to vote the same politicians back into office, career politicians who obviously have no clue how to solve economic problems. It’s like a game of musical chairs-when the music stops, what office will the Florida politicians be in this time? I would love to see a bunch of voters this time standing behind the politicians and pull the chairs out from under them when the music stops. Let them land on their butts, then get up and go get a real job like all of us have had to do our whole lives. I am honored to cast my vote for Rick Scott for governor. He is a brilliant businessman and he will be an excellent governor. Go see him please.