With no fans, things heat up at final gubernatorial debate

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Salem Solomon

Contributing writer- Tampa Bay Business Journal

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Things got nasty at the third and final debate between Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist in Jacksonville Tuesday night.

The two candidates appeared to exhibit a genuine dislike for one another, sparring over topics including who knows what it's like to grow up poor, what the minimum wage should be and who is the real job creator.

Scott repeatedly blamed Crist for losing more than 800,000 jobs while he was governor, CNN said. He bristled at claims that he is out of touch due to his wealth. "I grew up with families that struggled. I don't know my natural father. I lived in public housing. I have an adopted dad," Scott said. "I didn't grow up with money. You did. You grew up with plenty of money. Charlie, you lost more jobs than any state but one."

Crist fired back, making repeated allusions to Scott's record as CEO of the health care company HCA in the 1990s, where he resigned while the company was under investigation for Medicare fraud.

"You don't know me and you can't tell my story," Crist said. "But I know you are worth about $100 million or $200 million today and God bless you for that wealth, but the way you got it was pretty unsavory."

Polls show the race is a virtual deadlock and interest groups and donors from around the country are pouring in money having spent about $55 million on television advertisements alone, the Wall Street Journal said.