Spoilt for a choice of leaders

By Nick Assinder BBC News Online political correspondent

They were competing political attractions - so which to choose?

Blair's defences were as tough as ever

The prime minister's monthly press conference in Downing Street to watch Tony Blair proving he was in perfectly good health and, as usual, giving nothing away.

Or to the Midlands to witness Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith deliver a routine speech - and then face a barrage of questions over his embattled leadership.

Clearly no contest, as the attendance at Downing Street showed.

Even the prime minister appeared taken aback.

"I see our ranks are rather depleted. I wonder why?" he quipped disingenuously at the opening of his conference.

However there was just a hint that it was not only because IDS promised more excitement.

Medical scare

It may also partly be because many reporters have simply given up any hope of achieving anything significant from his performances. He is too good at it.

Duncan Smith wanted to talk policy

He said it himself when batting away questions about his health, his future as leader and any threat Gordon Brown might pose to him.

"I will answer all those questions absolutely frankly" - great hoots of friendly "isn't he a wag" laughter from all concerned.

"I may have had a medical scare but my defences are not down that much," he said.

"Whatever I said before I will say again."

Then he added, with obvious delight, that he was sorry it was such a "miserable reply". No he wasn't.

Good health

And it was up to the press to look at him and decide "how the patient is," he said.

On that performance, in disgustingly good health.

His defences were as impenetrable as ever and after more than an hour of questioning, it all ended and the hacks wandered back out into the autumn chill.

Meanwhile, back in the Midlands, IDS was bolstering his own defences with yet another of his "come on then, come and get me" performances.

He'll be hoping that it does the trick this time, in ending the murmurings about his leadership.

Like Tony Blair, he was desperate to talk about his policies. But no one was listening.

There was only one question on everyone's lips.

Mr Duncan Smith may normally dream about winning top billing over Tony Blair in the headline stakes.

This was probably not the way he wanted to do it.