A look back at how online mockery of Ron DeSantis's shoes dented his presidential run — bad for DeSantis, a win for his online critics.

• A troll seized on DeSantis wearing shoes with a thick sole and heel, apparently to look taller next to Trump on the debate stage.
• The "what are those?" post about his footwear went viral and drew huge attention.
• The mockery seemed to rattle the campaign — at the next event, DeSantis walled off the part of the stage where his shoes were visible.
• It shows how much a candidate's online image can shape their real-world campaign.

Outlook: Expect campaigns to keep fighting these image battles online, where a single viral jab can stick.