Crowley Political Report

He was unusually subdued.

Charlie Crist took a couple of gentle shots at Marco Rubio during Tuesday night's debate but there was none of the aggressive, personal attacks that Crist used in the last debate.

Overall, this final debate for the three Florida U.S. Senate candidates was a lofty affair with much discussion about issues confronting the state and the nation.

Crist did steadfastedly ignore Democrat Kendrick Meek in an apparent effort to convince voters that the race is really just between Florida's No-Party governor and Rubio, the Republican candidate.

But that tactic seemed silly with viewers obviously aware that there were three candidates in the race.

This has got to be a very tough week for Crist.  He knows his path to victory is now nearly impossible. In less than 10 months he has gone from a popular governor to a politician without a party or an immediate future.

Which is what made tonight's debate so striking. 

Crist seemed to shift from caustic "heckler" in the last debate two days ago to someone who appeared to be wearily realizng  that tonight's debate would not change his fate on election day.

Art by Patrick Crowley