Every year in Jacksonville, Atlantic Sun Conference basketball rivals Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida (UNF) engage in the River City Rumble.
On Tuesday night, Jacksonville hosted the third and final debate between Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist, which certainly was a rumble with both men trying to show off their populist credentials. But despite the testy exchanges Tuesday night, the debate wasnt as dramatic as the one last week in Broward County. Neither candidate suffered a knockdown and there were few lasting memorable moments. Both candidates rallied their base but did little to appeal to the handful of undecided voters who actually intend to cast ballots.
After a question about Ebola, Scott and Crist sparred after Jake Tapper from CNN asked a viewers question about whether the new Democrat could be trusted. The two candidates exchanged fire over ethics. Crist raised Columbia/HCA while Scott pounded back on Jim Greer, Scott Rothstein and flip-flops.
The candidates also clashed over the economy and job creation with both Scott and Crist playing up their populist credentials. Scott hit Crist for coming from a wealthy family and talked about his own rise from poverty. Crist painted Scott as a tool of the economic elite, doing the bidding of big utility companies and ripping the governors oceanfront mansion and private plane. When Scott hit Crist once again for coming from a wealthy background, the Democrat pushed back by talking about his father delivering newspapers when he was in med school. Based on these exchanges, voters can be excused if they think William Jennings Bryan remains part of the Florida political scene and the Southern Farmers' Alliance is meeting in Ocala as it did in 1890 before forming the Populist Party.
Thankfully, in the second half of the debate, other issues like medical marijuana, the death penalty, the embargo on Cuba, immigration, global warming and, of all things, the misdeeds of Florida State University Seminole football players took over. Both men played up their compassionate sides. Crist even gave a shout out to John Morgan over Amendment 2 while Scott took the bold stance of saying students should be held to the highest standards.
But even as they stopped talking about their modest and humble upbringings, the two candidates continued to battle, with Crist demanding to know if Scott delayed an execution due to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi scheduling a fundraiser. Scott hit Crist as a divider and a mudslinger while the Democrat often interrupted the governor. Eventually, the debate came back to jobs, with both candidates trashing each others economic records.
There were some strange moments, to be sure. Education, which has received a good deal of attention from both candidates, was on the back burner. When Tapper tried to ask a question about Trayvon Martins death, Scott ignored him to hit Crist on jobs. Despite once being known as Chain Gang Charlie, Crist said the justice system did not treat African-Americans fairly. Scott ripped Crist for wanting to restore voting rights to released felons and the Democrat accused the governor of lying about his record.
If nowhere near as dramatic as last weeks debate, supporters of both candidates had reason to cheer their man. That might be the most important legacy of this debate. Polls consistently show both Scott and Crist are upside down with voters. This is a lesser-of-two-evils election, meaning getting the party base out to the polls will be one of the chief focuses of both campaigns over the next two weeks. This uncivil debate changed few hearts and minds or did much to move the needle in what is shaping up as a close election.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
