Chris Huhne, Mark Oaten, Simon Hughes and Sir Menzies Campbell before yesterday's
televised debate on Sky. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA
The first few minutes of the televised debate on Sky yesterday evening were a bit surreal, writes Jody Dunn.
The four candidates were faced with an obvious dilemma. How could they be on the same side and against each other at the same time? Positive campaigns are great in principle, but they can make such complicated television.
At one point you couldn't help but wonder whether the debate would actually feature a disagreement of any description.
Yes, it had been a difficult month for Lib Dems. Yes, Charles needs to return to frontline politics. Yes we need more women and ethnic minorities in politics.
No, cannabis should not be reclassified. No to coalitions. Yes this must absolutely be a positive campaign.
Thankfully, differences did eventually emerge. Both Ming and Chris would support a smoking ban. Mark and Simon would not.
And there were different priorities on health issues, taxation and the environment. When pressed on the latter, Simon said no to nuclear power, Chris said he would have to raise fuel duties and Ming said he would have to let his Jag go.
When asked about ambitions for the party in the next general election, Ming took the view there was no glass ceiling.
Simon put our goal at 100 seats, with Mark aiming for 300 (without wishing to be pessimistic I think this may be just a tad ambitious for 2009).
I asked Lembit Opik, Mark Oaten's campaign director, what he'd made of the debate.
"Once the love-in was over there was actually some jostling for position. Of course, I would like to see Mark win each hustings, but I have to be honest and say that I thought that all four did pretty well tonight.
"There was no clear winner. The real winner tonight was the party." (Lembit and I both cringed as these words were spoken, but he dared me to put them in, and I have.)
Chris Huhne was certainly pleased with the way it had gone. We spoke just after the show had ended.
"I think it went brilliantly. I've been involved with radio and television for years and years. This is a natural medium for me. We may have been late off the blocks in starting the campaign, but we have caught up very fast."
My view, for what its worth, is that Chris came across strongly, and I know I am not alone in thinking that.
Chris knows better than anyone that he is still cited as "the outsider" with odds far less favourable than Simon's, but don't be fooled.
He might not be as well-known amongst party members as the other candidates, but anyone knows that a good media performer can make a big impression in six weeks. Ask anyone who hadn't heard of David Cameron a few months ago.
* Jody Dunn was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Hartlepool at last year's general election. Read her blogposts from yesterday, Friday and Thursday last week
