Putnam had statewide recognition because he was agriculture commissioner. I wouldn’t say he was unpopular, just no one to get too excited about. The polls flipped in one month, shortly after their debate. I’m sure the Trump endorsement helped to put DeSantis into the limelight, but he seemed to do better in the debates as well. The polls showing Putnam in the lead also indicated that there were a lot of “undecided” voters. One of the polls I saw was only 500 likely voters.