Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' behavior since suspending his presidential campaign a week ago has the hallmarks of a candidate who has learned from his mistakes — and is eyeing a course correction for a potential round two.

Why it matters: Republicans have privately and publicly marveled at how much more comfortable and effective DeSantis has appeared in his recent communications.

• Two days after dropping out, for example, DeSantis posted a selfie video with his young son Mason predicting the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers would face off in the Super Bowl.
• It was one of the most humanizing moments in a brutal year for the Florida governor (and, as DeSantis pointed out Monday, Mason's predictions were spot-on).

Zoom out: Despite endorsing former President Trump the previous day, DeSantis pulled no punches on the former president in his first interview since exiting the race last week.

• In another pair of selfie videos, DeSantis railed against the Senate's burgeoning border compromise and outlined the constitutional case for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott taking border enforcement into the state's hands.
• On Monday, DeSantis revealed that the Florida legislature is working to certify four amendments under Article V of the Constitution — including term limits for members of Congress and a balanced budget requirement.

The bottom line: DeSantis, who is only 45, seems determined to prove his potential leadership in a post-Trump GOP was not thoroughly squandered by his failed campaign.