Truth's out on what makes Crist so cool
More than 70 percent of Floridians approve of Gov. Charlie Crist, according to the latest polls, but his No. 1 fan is a Vornado Air Circulator.
Whenever Crist is at a podium facing the hot television lights, the fan is there, too. Just like a real-life, stalking kind of fan.
But at the same time, something entirely different. The Vornado is no ordinary fan, as its title implies.
It "actually bends and twists air to produce true whole-room air circulation using Vortex Action, " according to the product's official website.
The governor prefers it set on the lowest speed, so as not to muss his trademark shock of white hair or create any distracting noise.
The Vornado achieved statewide acclaim during the Crist's campaign back in August when he and his GOP rival, Tom Gallagher, met for a live televised debate in a stuffy Polk County community center.
Crist stayed fresh, thanks to the Vornado plugged in next to his podium. "What's the deal with the fan?" barked Gallagher, threatening to walk out.
The characteristically friendly Crist offered to share. The moment cemented the Vornado's status as his right-hand . . . fan.
Nearly a year later, the fan accompanied Crist to his televised interview Wednesday at the Broward Education Communications Network (BECON) studio in Davie. It's a chilly room, and one unwitting BECON crew member moved the fan away from the governor.
Deep breath. Was the you-know-what going to hit the fan?
The unflappable governor kept his cool.
Never did the fan seem more essential than at the governor's conference on global warming this week in Miami. Between the temperature-rising issue at hand, and the heat and light created by 200 members of the media, the situation called for not one Vornado, but two Honeywell fans, purchased just for the occasion.
Some investigative reporting turned up the truth: Crist has a whole bunch of fans, a fan club, if you will -- one at each of his three satellite offices in Miami, Orlando and Tampa, one at the Capitol, and one that travels with him by plane.
This is a governor who sweats the small stuff. Without actually sweating.
At a news conference Thursday, a reporter for an online climate publication asked Crist which scientists or publications had influenced him the most.
"Terry, " Crist responded simply, referring to Terry Tamminen, the environmental muse for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Before the reporter could follow up and note that Tamminen isn't a scientist, Crist moved on. "Next question, " he said coolly, defying the adage that genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
Newspaper reports suggest Crist has employed fans since his state Senate days in the 1990s. At least one of the fans he uses now is left over from his stint as state attorney general.
Remember Richard Nixon's infamously sweaty, haggard appearance in the 1960 televised campaign debate opposite a youthful Democrat named John F. Kennedy? No Nixon moments for this governor.
Crist concluded the climate change summit Friday by signing ambitious executive orders to reduce carbon emissions and make the state more energy efficient. The question: Will Florida rise to the challenge?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. Or out the Vornado.
This story was originally published July 14, 2007 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Truth's out on what makes Crist so cool."