JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The month before their showdown for a U.S. Senate seat, Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott will square off in two televised debates and, possibly, a third forum in Jacksonville.
On Tuesday, a second debate was set in Florida’s nationally watched U.S. Senate contest, as Nelson and Scott agreed to an Oct. 16 debate hosted by CNN. The cable network’s Wolf Blitzer is expected to moderate the event.
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The candidates quickly attacked each other as a prelude to the debate.
Nelson's campaign tweeted Tuesday afternoon:
CNN debate in U.S. Senate race now set for Oct. 16. Scott will be forced before a national audience to answer for the poor job he's done and how he's enriched himself in public office.
— Bill Nelson (@NelsonForSenate) September 11, 2018
The Scott campaign replied a short time later on Twitter:
Glad you finally accepted. We accepted this debate in June. Will you also accept the @wjxt4 debate in Jacksonville? We're still waiting… https://t.co/l50XwG8KJ9
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) September 11, 2018
Scott in recent weeks has tried to portray the Democrat as avoiding debates.
Scott’s campaign has said it has agreed to a forum that would be held by the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute and Jacksonville TV station WJXT.
Late Monday, an Oct. 2 debate hosted by Telemundo was also announced by the two campaigns.
Telemundo’s hour-long event in Miami will be moderated by the station’s political reporter, Marilys Llanos, and WTVJ NBC 6 anchor Jackie Nespral.
Nelson and Scott are running in the Nov. 6 general election, with the outcome of the race possibly helping decide control of the U.S. Senate.