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topicnews · October 24, 2024

Rick Scott mentions the recent storms when asked why he decided not to debate his Democratic opponent, Florida Phoenix

Rick Scott mentions the recent storms when asked why he decided not to debate his Democratic opponent, Florida Phoenix

Only 12 days until Election Day and early voting is in full swing. It has been clear for some time that, for the first time in four decades, there will be no debate between the two candidates for US Senate in Florida.

Despite pleas from Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, Republican incumbent Rick Scott chose not to attend any of the candidate forums agreed to by three television networks before voting began in the Sunshine State.

The senator met with supporters at an early voting site in South Tampa on Thursday afternoon and cited recent hurricanes as a reason he didn’t have time to attend such a forum.

“As you know, we’ve been through three bad storms,” Scott replied when asked by the Phoenix about his decision, which may have given Mucarsel-Powell more attention among voters than any other event this election cycle. “So we worked on that and then came back to the campaign every day.”

Screenshot of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell on a Zoom conference call on April 19, 2024.

During the 2018 election cycle, Scott debated incumbent Democratic Senate leader Bill Nelson, but only after he complained that Nelson failed to agree to work with him. Similarly, he debated Democrat Alex Sink in his 2010 runs for governor and Charlie Crist in 2014 (even after delaying the start of their debate in Davie because there was an electric fan under Crist’s podium).

When asked by CNN last month if he would debate Mucarsel-Powell, Scott indicated it would depend on her travel schedule and said, “I’m watching to see if she starts touring the state.”

“She spends all her time in Miami,” he added. “I continue to travel the state.”

The senator was similarly tight-lipped when asked whether he supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’ use of taxpayer money to fight Amendment 4, the proposed constitutional amendment that would repeal Florida’s six-week ban on most abortions and enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution would.

“I didn’t see what they did,” he said. “I am pro-life and do not support the ballot initiative.”

Snake display

In a quieter moment, Scott was asked if he had seen the recent television ad funded by the Mucarsel Powell Campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) depicting him as a real snake, with his opponent saying, “Florida’s largest snake.” is not in the Everglades, she is in the Senate: Rick Scott.”

Still from new ad by Debbie Mucarsel-Powell/DSCC.

“I didn’t see it,” Scott said blankly, ending any further questions about what he thought about being turned into a reptile.

Scott voted in his hometown of Naples on Monday, the first day of early voting. He said he came to the Platt Library to meet his daughter and her family as she prepared for early voting.

Polls show Scott Mucarsel-Powell leading all year, although she remains within the margin of error in some polls. He said Thursday that his strategy for undecided voters is simply to talk about the issues.

“Most people are worried about their future. They are afraid for their jobs. The impact of inflation on these people. They are worried about crime and the open border, so we talk to people about it,” he said.

As for his thoughts on Mucarsel-Powell?

“My opponent is stupid. She’s a stupid socialist, she’s not serious about anything. She lies about everything.”

The Mucarsel Powell campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A crowd of Hillsborough Republican lawmakers met with Scott in the Platt Library parking lot for an impromptu rally for the Scott campaign. Among those seen in the crowd were Karen Gonzalez-Pittman, Jay Collins and Danny Alvarez.

Hillsborough County District Attorney Suzy Lopez, who is running against Democrat Andrew Warren in one of the state’s most-watched races this year, was also at the meeting.

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