CBS4's Eliott Rodriguez To Moderate 2nd Gubernatorial Debate Tonight
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) - Final preparations are underway at Broward College in Davie where CBS4 anchor Eliott Rodriguez will moderate the second gubernatorial debate Wednesday evening.
On Tuesday a federal judge struck down Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie's attempt to join Governor Rick Scott and former Governer Charlie Crist in "Florida's Gubernatorial Debate, Decision 2014: Before you Vote."
CBS4 is producing the debate for Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association.
CLICK HERE To Watch Natalia Zea's Report
Wyllie has vowed to show up at the debate to protest.
READ: Judge Rejects Wyllie Try To Get In Governor Debate
The second debate comes on the heels of caustic campaign ads by both campaigns in what's being called the ugliest and most costly gubernatorial race in the country.
The latest CNN poll, released Tuesday, had Crist and Scott tied at 44 percent among likely voters, with Wyllie at nine percent. Among registered voters, the poll showed Crist edging Scott by two percent with Wyllie taking 10 percent.
Scott has one advantage going into the debate. He won the coin toss allowing him to pick his podium and take the first question.
The candidates will be looking at an audience of nearly one thousand Broward College students, faculty, staff, invited dignitaries and of course the candidates' guests.
CLICK HERE To Watch Eliott Rodriguez Preview Tonight's Gubernatorial Debate
The debate's organizers did not invite Wyllie to participate because he did not meet the 15 percent polling percentage mandate they established several years ago. Wyllie thinks it was something else.
"It all boils down to connections between Charlie Crist the Democratic Party and the president of the Florida Press Association," Wyllie explained. "The Florida Press Association and leadership Florida has just silenced the voices of 1.5 million Floridians, and that is unacceptable!"
Scott and Crist will take the stage Wednesday night at 7pm.
The debate will air live on CBS4 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will stream live on CBSMiami.com.
Here are some of the rules of the debate. First there will be no opening statement but each candidate will be able to give a closing statement. They'll each get one minute to answer the question with a 30 second rebuttal.
One rule that could help decrease some of the tension between the candidates; neither candidate will be allowed to question the other.
Also, if at any point Rodriguez feels the candidates are not answering the question fully, he can interrupt them, ask them to do so in a 15 second response.
Click here for the live stream.
Don't forget to like our Facebook page and join the debate conversation. What question would you like Rodriguez to ask the candidates? We'll take the top ranked questions from our Facebook page and ask the candidates during the debate.
During the debate CBS4 News anchor Irika Sargent will be manning the social media corner. She'll be watching what's trending on social media and taking your questions live to pose to the candidates. All you have to do is use the hashtag #FLgovdebate.
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