Spectrum Bay News 9 has set a date and established rules for a debate between St. Petersburg mayoral candidates Charlie Crist and Ken Welch to air Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.
“Looking forward to it. I hope you get to tune in. It’s an exciting time. Big decision we all have to make. I’ve already made mine. I’m going to vote for Charlie,” Crist said in a video response to the debate announcement.
Crist challenged Welch to a televised debate at the end of August, citing limited attendance at in-person forums.
“Our vote is our most sacred right as American citizens, and casting it should be a decision weighed carefully. That means every voter should have the opportunity to hear directly from myself and Mayor Welch as we seek your vote to lead our city over the next four years,” Crist said at the time, adding that “this information is too important to share one room at a time.”
Crist was the first-place finisher in the Primary for Mayor last month, finishing with more than 35% of the vote to Welch’s less than 21%. In addition to his nearly 15-percentage-point lead over Welch in the Primary, Crist has established himself as a front-runner in the race, with a significant cash-on-hand advantage over the incumbent and polling that suggests an easy win in November.
A St. Pete Polls survey taken Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 among 509 likely St. Pete voters shows Crist with 52% support in the race, while Welch trails at 27%.
Crist’s positioning above 50% suggests that even with winning all undecided voters, Welch may not have a clear path to victory in November. And data from the poll show Crist has improved his position among several demographics, including erasing Welch’s advantage among Black voters and Democrats while gaining ground among both Republicans and independent voters.
Crist’s polling has continuously improved since March, while Welch’s has generally declined. Welch polled at 31% support in a head-to-head against Crist in March, with his strongest showing in late June at 32% support. Welch’s current 27% is his lowest yet. Crist, meanwhile, polled at 36% support in March, jumping to 40% in June, 44% in mid-July, 45% in late July and now 52%.
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Ed. note: Michelle Todd Schorsch is the Chair of St. Pete Shines, a political committee backing Crist for St. Petersburg Mayor. Todd Schorsch is married to Peter Schorsch, the publisher of Florida Politics.