Four days before the primary, hundreds of Republicans gathered Thursday evening for a chance to compare and contrast the two candidates in the bitterly fought contest for the party’s nomination for governor. They ended up with just one candidate with their chicken piccata. Governor candidate Rick Scott ducked the joint appearance with primary rival Bill McCollum, bailing out just two hours before the event, surprising organizers and many of the 400 attendees. Scott sent his mother instead. Avoiding forums at which Republican primary voters can examine him side by side with McCollum has become a pattern for Scott. At the...
