Rubio to Crist: I’ll debate you anytime, anywhere, after our Fox debate on March 28

Marco Rubio has been calling on Charlie Crist to engage him a debate since last summer.

Finally, the Florida Governor – now trailing for the first time in some polls – has accepted Rubio's challenge.

Crist said today he would debate Rubio on two nationally televisd Sunday morning public affairs programs – on March 7 on NBC's Meet the Press, and March 28th on Fox News Sunday.

Rubio said that was fine, but that since Fox had expressed the first interest in airing such a debate, he would like that first televised one on one encounter to take place on March 28th with FNS's Chris Wallace.

In a press release, Rubio spokesman Alex Burgos said:

For nearly a year, Charlie Crist has avoided a serious policy debate or an honest discussion of his record. Instead, he has relied on the broken politics of shrill name-calling, cynical reinvention and petty attacks.

“Only now, when his campaign is increasingly desperate and willing to say and do anything to turn the tide, has he apparently realized the importance of a substantive debate on the issues.

“FOX Network has shown serious interest in this primary campaign since day one and was the first national news organization to extend an invitation for a debate. Marco Rubio gladly accepted immediately and will be happy to debate Charlie Crist on Meet the Press or anywhere else after he has kept his commitment to have the first debate on FOX on March 28.  No national news organization has shown greater interest in covering this race than FOX.  It’s unfortunate that Charlie Crist doesn’t understand this."

Included in that press release was the original letter that Rubio issued to Crist last June challenging Crist to a series of debates.  In saying that he was keeping his word to Fox, Rubio puts Crist in an interesting box.  Does the Governor, who has been avoiding any talk of debates since the campaign begin, now call out Rubio for ducking him by not going on MTP early next month?   And if he did so, would he only antagonize supporters of Fox News, the most popular cable news network and one that represents the conservative movement?

This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2010.