Everything that’s old is new again, and that has never applied more to a politician than Charlie Crist. The retread has run for office in Florida enough times to make Beto O’Rourke blush. He also happens to be a former Republican turned Democrat, making him the ultimate in political cynics.

Now, Crist is doing the media rounds to promote a possible run for governor against Ron DeSantis.

.@CharlieCrist says he is considering another run for Fla. governor pic.twitter.com/47pAyWhf5c

— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) February 5, 2021

Meanwhile, back in reality, DeSantis has been one of the best governors in the country dealing with COVID when you consider the totality of economic and medical impact on his state. He’s managed only a little more than half the death rate of places like New York and New Jersey while also avoiding California’s more recent fate. He did all that while keeping his state not locked down and without mask mandates. That’s led to Florida becoming an economic oasis for frustrated residents of blue states.

His no-nonsense leadership has endeared him to an electorate that is normally very divided, with his approval ratings continually in the mid-50s. It’s only pure delusion driving any dissatisfaction, as false and misleading media coverage has colored some of his accomplishments over the last year. Talk to a liberal and Florida is a disaster. Talk to someone who actually lives on this planet, however, and it’s an objective success story.

Regardless, there are other factors working against Crist. Namely, that he’s an old white guy.

Would Florida Democrats go for some hasbeen retread, especially if they could vote for a woman of color like Val Demings instead? Besides, Crist would get smoked. Not that Demings would do that much better. H/t @LucasRJustin. https://t.co/OPHCPrIIk0

— Varad Mehta (@varadmehta) February 5, 2021

Crist simply doesn’t fit the demographic that Democrats are looking for in a swing state like Florida. Their last gubernatorial candidate was Andrew Gillum, who eventually got caught passed out on the floor of a hotel with a male escort. Crist is decidedly boring in comparison, and he checks none of the intersectional boxes. The Democrat strategy these days is to maximize minority turnout. What does Crist give them there?

But arrogance is a funny thing, and Crist has no shortage of that. I hope he declares. DeSantis would wipe the floor with him on his way to running for president in 2024.