INSTANT DEBATE POLLS
Guardian/ ICM: Nick Clegg: 33%, David Cameron: 29 %, Gordon Brown: 29%
Angus Reid: Nick Clegg 33%, David Cameron: 32%, Gordon Brown: 23%
ITV/ComRes: Nick Clegg 33%, David Cameron: 32%, Gordon Brown: 32%
Times/Populous: David Cameron: 37%, Nick Clegg: 36%, Gordon Brown: 27%
YouGov Instant reaction: David Cameron: 36%, Nick Clegg: 32%, Gordon Brown: 29%
SECOND LEADERS' DEBATE
Clegg: I think if we do things differently, if we stand up for the values that make our country great then we can be proud again, proud of fairness here at home and proud also of standing up for the things we believe in in the world."
General consensus shows Nick won the second Leaders' debate as he tops three polls and comes second in two more.
Speaking on BBC 10 o'clock news Nick Robinson said: "It was another confident performance from the Liberal Democrat leader…this genuinely is a three horse race."
Robinson: What a difference (BBC)
"The second party leaders' debate did not produce a clear winner, but it showed the Nick Clegg surge was not an accident." Guardian Editorial:
Lib Dem reaction
Chris Huhne: I think both Labour and the Conservatives were desperate to land a knock out blow on Nick Clegg after his tremendous performance last week, and they failed."
Paddy Ashdown: "Nick Clegg gave him (David Cameron) a masterclass on how to do this last week, these guys have picked up a tip or two. He (Nick) had to confirm what he did last week, a three way choice for the British people, I think he did that in spades."
- RIGHT-WING SMEARS BACKFIRE
Opposition to right wing smears against Nick is led by huge online campaign;
Stephen Fry Tweets "Frankly I'm tempted to vote Lib Dem now. If we let the Telegraph and Mail win, well, freedom and Britain die."
Leading article:
Feeble attacks and reprehensible smears
(Independent): The vested interests of British politics are fighting back. The Liberal Democrats' remarkable surge in the opinion polls has provoked a deluge of attacks and smears on the party from those who would like to preserve the traditional two-party status quo.
COMMENT REACTION
- Editorial: Two-party politics (Times): Nick Clegg confirmed the impression that he gave last week. He is a fluent and credible presence in British politics who, by force of his televisual appeal, is making a political realignment a genuine possibility.
- Editorial: So Mr Clegg's adventure continues (Independent): If either Labour or the Conservatives were hoping that the second party leaders' debate in Bristol last night would see the Liberal Democrat genie forced back into the bottle, it was soon obvious they were destined to be disappointed.
- Editorial: A cut-and-thrust debate that sparked real passion (Telegraph): The instant verdict on the debate reflected the national polls - it's a two-horse race between Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg.
- Steve Richards: At least Cameron raised his game. Brown failed to (Independent): "The Nick Clegg bandwagon has not been stopped. This was the most significant point to emerge from the debate."
- Kettle: Nick held on in a gripping debate. This will go to the wire (Guardian)
- Tomasky: Not a slam dunk, but Clegg still won (Guardian)
- Richards:
- Aaronovitch: Voters have been waiting for this for years (Times): Policies and ties don't matter. Clegg represents the break from stale two-party politics that many crave
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