Governor DeSantis turned in arguably the worst debate performance by a sitting Governor in Florida’s history on Monday night. It was the worst performance by any Gubernatorial candidate since Bill McBride’s infamous mistake-filled 2002 debate vs Jeb Bush, that led directly to the biggest landslide election many of us remember in this state.

The Governor had a deer-in-the-headlights look all night, dazed and confused, alternating between throwing out ineffective canned lines and a childish-immature looking defensiveness that just didn’t come across well. Outside, a strong closing statement (which Crist couldn’t refute as it was the final word of the program), DeSantis was more often than not, found wanting in the most critical exchanges of the night. Crist absolutely walloped him – if it was a prize fight the referee would have ended proceedings fairly early on.

But will it cost DeSantis? Yes, maybe, maybe not or no! Let me explain.

The Governor remains a solid, if not almost sure bet to be reelected by a handsome margin. Debates just don’t change the trajectory of races the way they once did. However let me introduce a MAJOR caveat- despite polling and what is happening in neighboring Georgia with enthusiasm in both parties, thus far this appears to be a low turnout election in Florida – on a trajectory far worse than 2018 and perhaps even worse than 2014 and 2010. So if the turnout remains low, Democrat Charlie Crist could author what soccer pundits call a “smash and grab” (when one team is on the back foot all match but then scores a late goal to win or draw against superior opposition) with the debate performance, a fundraising boost and increased Democratic enthusiasm.

In the bigger scheme of things, how exactly does DeSantis propose to win the GOP Presidential nomination if he has to get onto a stage with former President Donald J Trump? DeSantis HAS to get better at this in the next nine months or should wait Trump out, which also potentially puts DeSantis out of office and missing “his moment” entirely to make the move up the ladder.

Yes, on these pages we’ve eviscerated DeSantis cruelty and nastiness, as we will continue to do but the human side of me sat with some empathy towards him last night, because it’s awful to see a slaughter of this magnitude, unfold in front of your eyes unless you are at your base instinct a cruel person. That’s how badly the governor did, and the human side of me says he should never walk onto a debate stage with Trump, because that could create a situation where DeSantis goes into hiding for weeks.

Ultimately, we learned last night DeSantis is a bully that needs to control the scene and setting to be a lion. Otherwise, he’s a meek paper tiger, or worse yet just a pussy cat, looking lost and without love, ultimately needing the the affection we all crave.

Last night was revealing and worrying if you’re expecting DeSantis to be President come January of 2025. And it might just leave the door slightly ajar enough for Crist to author a “smash and grab” win as referenced above.