The debate moderator called it an "extremely peculiar situation."
ThinkProgress called it "The Absolute Weirdest Thing Ever to Happen at a Political Debate."
Tonight's gubernatiorial debate was stalled for seven minutes while Rick Scott initially refused to come onstage because Charlie Crist had an electric fan under the podium.
For much of the world, this was the first time they'd ever paid attention to Charlie Crist's fan. But Politico explained, "The famously-tan Crist is legendary for carrying a black fan."
A Washington Post story from February details how he sent an assistant to get a fan to keep him cool:
Crist sent her to Target. While Crist sits patiently in a chair, rubbing anti-glare cream on his face, Clark jumps a curb in her car, carrying a mini tower fan. Crist can't be seen sweating. "I definitely broke a few laws to get this," she says, bursting into the room with moments to spare. She puts the fan on the ground beside Crist. But it's not hitting him quite right. So she kneels on her leaf-print skirt and holds it up, the cool air kissing Crist's face as it glows in the spotlight.
And in fact, Charlie Crist's fan has had its own Twitter account for more than four years. It's apparently a parody written by a Crist hater.
See also: Rick Scott-Charlie Crist Debate at Broward College (Photos)
Looks like Charlie Crist's fan made its debut on Twitter May 8, 2010, with this tweet:
Floridius, Greek god of turncoat provincial rulers #lilknowngreekgods (@joefuckingbiden)
— Charlie Crist's Fan (@CCristFan) May 8, 2010
As Crist's campaigning ramped up:
Starting to smell down here. Tanman's one sweaty bitch. None you biznatches have a clue how much dedication it takes to do this job.
— Charlie Crist's Fan (@CCristFan) October 15, 2014
See also: Rick Scott-Charlie Crist Debate Live Blog
The tweets kept coming steadily and devotedly over the years:
That be some cheapass knockoff. RT @FloridaGOP: .@CharlieCrist wishes @BarackObama a "cool" birthday. #sayfie #flgov pic.twitter.com/UTgIwzEq17
— Charlie Crist's Fan (@CCristFan) August 4, 2014
Let's do this shit. RT @Amy_Kiley: The Charlie Crist press conference on education funding is about to start. pic.twitter.com/6uZdqjD2UY
— Charlie Crist's Fan (@CCristFan) August 14, 2014
See also: Charlie Crist Broke the Debate Rules With Fan, Officials Say
The fan basked in the glory of its newfound fame last night:.@BryanJohnson__ bitch where you been? I've been a thing longer than Tanman's been a Democrat. Oh wait. Bad example.
— Charlie Crist's Fan (@CCristFan) October 15, 2014
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