This video frame grab made available by CBS 4, shows a fan at the bottom of the lectern near Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist in Davie, Fla., Wednesday Oct. 15, 2014. The fan caused a delay in the gubernatorial debate between Crist and Governor Rick Scott, after the Scott campaign considered the fan a violation of the rules prohibiting the use of electronic devices.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist insists on bringing an electric fan to campaign appearances. One GOP operative calls the fan Crist’s “teddy bear.”
At a debate on Wednesday night, Governor Rick Scott refused to take the stage for seven minutes on live television because Crist insisted on having his fan plugged in below his lectern. In an attempt to put Crist at a psychological disadvantage, Scott’s handlers tried to ban the fan from the stage, citing debate rules to which both parties agreed.
This is not the first time Crist’s fan has caused problems. When Crist debated Tom Gallagher in the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary, Gallagher wouldn’t debate until he got a fan too.
Charlie Crist’s Fan is cantankerous and vulgar, and has its own Twitter account.
More in the SF Chronicle, and the Washington Post.