BRADENTON — Their last debate was most noted for a seven-minute delay while the candidates squabbled over whether a fan constituted a prohibited electronic device on stage. The contest did not seem to affect the deadlocked polling of voters, who remain essentially split on whether to reelect Florida Governor Rick Scott or replace him with his predecessor, Republican-turned Independent-turned Democrat Charlie Crist. Tonight, the two candidates will take to the CNN stage for one last chance to differentiate themselves to undecided voters.

Fangate as it is being called, gave plenty of fodder to late night comedians and cable news hosts, but understandably spoke little to the concerns of everyday Floridians, most of whom seem none-too-thrilled with either candidate. Aside from the fan incident, the contest consisted of little more than both candidates going back and forth, frivolously (and often inaccurately) attacking the other, while each called the other a liar in their respective rebuttal.

Unsurprisingly, the admittedly odd and perhaps absurd (even by the standards of Florida politics) fan issue dominated the post-debate reactions. Everyone but Rick Scott's staunchest supporters seemed to agree that it was a colossal mistake on his part. The governor came off looking petulant, like a spoiled child of privilege throwing a tantrum. For his part, Crist didn't look much better. Preening on stage, with a childish smirk of his own, he hardly cut a serious image.

My guess is that if you liked Scott better before the debate, you still did after and vice versa and that the same will be the case tonight. Last week, I kept finding myself wishing that Libertarian Adrian Wyllie had been allowed to participate. They could have not only got started on time, with at least two contestants available for questions, but the third-party candidate could have called baloney on a lot of the nonsensical answers both Scott and Crist were offering and maybe even pulled the debate into some meaningful territory.

If he hadn't met the 15 percent threshold in the polls prior, my guess is Wyllie would have gained at least that many points simply by acting like a grown up. Perhaps that's why he wasn't allowed to take part. With someone other than Coke and Pepsi candidates on stage, the already thin facade of real choice would have surely crumbled.

In 2010, Alex Sink seemed to lose whatever wind was under her sails after "textgate," when during the same CNN forum, she looked at her phone and opened a text from an aide seeking to pass on some strategic advice – a violation of the debate's rules. Again, it was a race with little else offered in terms of serious issues. If the fan incident winds up bringing down Governor Scott, he'll have no one but himself to blame. Live by the sword, die by the sword – or "electronic device" I suppose.

Either way, it seems clear that voters will not be sending either of them to the governor's mansion with much of a mandate or enthusiasm. The fact that such can be the case in a race as consequential as governor of our state says a lot about the effect of big-money politics and its ability to suppress real choice among the electorate. 

Tonight's CNN debate will start at 7 p.m.

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