Can the Tories turn around their disastrous Election Campaign tonight?

[Gromit]

Tonight's "Debate" is make or break time for Cameron - Can he pull it off?

[Gromit]

For the record, I think he will do a lot better than last week, but not enough.

[Seadragon]

Yes I think he can. I think he will be stronger against Clegg. And I disagree that their election campaign is disastrous, they are pretty much same in the polls as before, for Labour it is disastrous Clegg done better.

[Gromit]

Seadragon

// The Independent on Sunday/ComRes poll last weekend contained an early Christmas present for David Cameron: a 17-point Tory lead. //

They had a 17pt lead at Christmas, then the Tories went on Election alert in January, and things have been downhill ever since.

From yesterday's Torygraph:

// ...impatience is one of the weaknesses of modern politics, and everyone wants to know why the Tories threw away the election.
They haven't, by the way, but the events of the past week have been too far-reaching to postpone at least a preliminary reckoning. David Cameron's admirable calm since walking off stage in Manchester last Thursday and retiring to a nearby pub to drown his sorrows conceals reactions across his party that range from defeatism to murderous rage to a curious optimism. //

http://www.telegraph....es-from-disaster.html

[Seadragon]

I still don't think its been downhill, Labour messed up on their posters and made Cameron look cool. Besides it's not May 6, still some time to go and I think the 3rd t.v debate will probably be the most influential.

[rov1200]

I think Cameron has blown it. Wasn't he the person who asked for the debates? He has now come a cropper as shown by recent polls. In fact it must be getting to him because how aggressive he has become. He nearly hit that chicken and that cuddle disguised his left hand squeeze. He tried to play light on this after being hit by that egg.

If his true character comes out tonight in the debate you may see an aggressive individual blaming others when its him who has made the crass mistake.

[mike11111]

As a Tory supporter I have to agree with rov 1200. Cameron was confident of getting the better of Brown in any debate, but he forgot about the third factor, and what Margaret Thatcher called the 'oxygen of publicity'. If the Tories fail to get an overall majority then this will be the primary cause and there will be more knives out for Cameron than ever there were for Brown.

[sandyRoe]

Cameron should go now while he still has a shred of dignity. Ian Duncan Smith should replace him as leader.

[Seadragon]

If you're a floating voter, I don't think this debate today will push you towards any Party. They seem to be on equal and different platforms. Brown is doing well this time. Can't help thinking that Clegg looks like Dec's older brother. Good-night.

[mike11111]

If Cameron were to go there is only one viable alternative at the moment and that is Hague.

[jno]

it appears that people have been influenced by today's revelations in the Tory newspapers, and realised that Clegg is indeed responsible for everything from the San Andreas fault to the destruction of Romulus (formerly thought to be Mr Spock's fault).

http://www.guardian.c...clegg-newspaper-swipe

[Gromit]

Well, the result was a lo closer than last week. Clegg proved he was not a one trick pony and came first in several polls afterwards. Cameron and Brown were more relaxed than last week and both did better. Brown was still last but put in a better performance.

Cameron did a lot better than last week, but there was no knockout blow. He didn't quite pull it off, but there is one more bite of the cherry next week. It is still a three horse race which is not good news for the Conservatives.

In all, a better debate than last week, all the parties are learning the format quickly which bodes well for next week's final debate.

The Poll of Polls afterwards (the average of 9 polls) had it as

Clegg 33%
Cameron 33%
Brown 30%