The Bill Nelson-Connie Mack race is pretty much America's most closely watched Senate race. And now incumbent Nelson -- the Democrat -- and Mack -- the Republican -- have agreed to the only confirmed statewide televised debate on October 17.
The showdown will take place at Nova Southeastern University in Davie. The broadcast will begin at 7 p.m.
The debate broadcast will be moderated by WPTV NewsChannel 5 anchor Michael Williams, along with a panel of journalists that includes Anthony Man, of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel; Lissette Campos, director of community affairs for ABC Action News/WFTS in Tampa; and Toluse Olorunnipa, state/politics reporter with the Miami Herald.
The Pulp regrets not being asked to participate so we could ask the candidates if they prefer peanut M&Ms over pretzel M&Ms. Pretzel M&Ms are the balls.
Millions of Floridians will be able to tune into the debate via a "Before You Vote" network of 11 partner television stations throughout the state (see the list of stations at the bottom of this here post).
"This debate and news coverage of it will provide voters with the best insight into this campaign about which candidate is better prepared to serve Florida in the U.S. Senate," said Matt Walsh, editor and CEO of the Observer Group (Sarasota) and chairman of the Florida Press Association. "Truly, 'Before You Vote' may be the most important political 'must see TV' outside of the contest for president in the biggest Florida race in this election year."
A recent poll from SurveyUSA found that Sen. Nelson is starting to pull a Miami Heat versus New York Knicks on Congressman Mack with a whopping 47-36 percentage lead.
Can Mack make a comeback through the debate? We'll have to wait and see.
Here are the stations that will be carrying the debate live on October 17:
- Fort Myers WBBH-TV 2 (NBC) / WZVN-HD 7 (ABC)
- Gainesville WCJB-TV 20 (ABC) / CW10
- Jacksonville FCN WTLV 12 (NBC) / WJXX 25 (ABC)
- Miami WTVJ 6 (NBC)
- Orlando WKMG 6 (CBS)
- Panama City WJHG 7 (NBC)
- Pensacola WEAR-TV 3 (ABC)
- Sarasota WWSB 7 (ABC)
- Tallahassee WCTV 6 (CBS)
- Tampa WFTS 28 (ABC)
- West Palm Beach WPTV 5 (NBC)
