The slip prompted an outburst from media commentators, including Mandy Rhodes, editor of Scottish current affairs magazine Holyrood.
Condemnation from dolls across Scotland soon followed.
Scotland's political elite were quick to exploit the weakness in the mighty SNP campaign, with Scottish Labour deputy Kezia Dugdale calling for action.
However, words of support soon came in from sympathisers, keen to show solidarity with Sturgeon.
In a desperate swerve into damage-control mode, Sturgeon tried to make amends for her past mistakes.
Fears were stoked - Sturgeon could well be pulling the strings of government in a few weeks, and concerned citizens wondered what having such a person in power could do to the UK.
The evidence began to build against Sturgeon as new details were uncovered.
And now, as revelations emerge implicating other party leaders, the election campaign looks set never to recover from today's events.
Sturgeon could be the power broker after the election, but Labour leader Ed Miliband has ruled out any coalition with her party - and with developments like today's, it's easy to see why.
- The Independent