Can TV battles change the election outcome?

By Jim Fitzpatrick BBC NI Politics Show presenter

Of course I watched the debate. And, yes, I agree that Nick Clegg won it.

Some commentators drew a distinction between substance and style - suggesting Gordon Brown was victor in the former category - but I'm not sure that television allows for that distinction.

Will it change the outcome of the election? That is the question that will not be answered until 7 May.

I like to think we have been ahead of the game on the Politics Show in Northern Ireland where we have favoured head-to-head election debates, including party leaders, since the 2003 Assembly Elections.

Floating voters

Some have been more memorable and, therefore, one might assume more influential, than others. But their impact here on eventual outcomes must surely have been limited by the relative absence of "floating voters" in Northern Ireland, even within each communal block.

The politicians are always keen to take part so they, at least, attach some importance to these gladiatorial contests.

They know it is their chance to speak directly to voters - to spell out the benefits of voting for them and the dangers of voting for the other.

This election is taking place in unprecedented circumstances: the expenses scandal has tainted the political class; personal scandal has hit the DUP and Sinn Fein; the Conservative entry has energised and confused unionism and new candidates from outside politics have entered the fray.

More to play for?

Against that backdrop there could - I put it no stronger than that - be more to play for in these televised battles.

Over the next three weeks on the Politics Show, we will reflect the battle within nationalism, unionism and across the board. There will be questions from me and from members of the public.

On Sunday we are in Armagh - Ireland's ecclesiastical capital - as we focus on the two nationalist parties, with Sinn Fein veteran Gerry Kelly facing SDLP newcomer Fearghal McKinney.

Will it deliver a decisive moment in this election? I can't say for sure, but I can at least promise an interesting pairing, and one that we can say with certainty has not been seen before.

See you Sunday,

Jim

PS: the most memorable clip from the US Presidential debates was Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen's flooring of Republican hopeful Dan Quayle back in 1988: "…Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine, and Senator (pause for effect) you're no Jack Kennedy". It's the best political put-down ever recorded.

But much as the sound bite remains memorable, what people seem to forget is that the man who assumed the office of Vice President the following January was not Lloyd Bentsen, but Dan Quayle.

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