Libertarian Party candidate for governor Adrian Wyllie has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to join the Oct. 15 Florida gubernatorial debate.
Wyllie claims in the lawsuit filed Thursday that his rights are being infringed because of a rule requiring participants to show at least 15 percent support in a reputable opinion poll. Wyllie says the rule he understood was 12 percent, although the 15 percent figure has been in place since August 2013.
A News13/UF Graham Center statewide poll conducted after the Aug. 27 primary election showed only 6.3 percent of likely voters would vote for Wyllie.
The lawsuit is pending in federal court in Fort Lauderdale. The Oct. 15 debate between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist is to take place at Broward College.
Scott and Crist have their first debate Friday at a Miramar television station, also without Wyllie. A third debate is set Oct. 21 in Jacksonville.
"There was a set of benchmarks that we sent at the beginning of this campaign in order to win this election," Wyllie said during a special taping of Political Connections, which will air Sunday, Oct. 12. "The final benchmark was getting into the televised debates. That's where we are being blocked at this point."
"This is so critical to us having the chance at winning this election, that we are willing to do whatever it takes," Wyllie added.
Our special edition of Political Connections featuring Adrian Wyllie will air Sunday at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Charlie Crist and Gov. Rick Scott will also participate in respective editions of the show, airing Oct. 19 and Oct. 26.