What's Cameron's game with the TV debates?

[TheFaQQer]

Complete mess, the first one will be a farce and Cameron will be able to say "well I was right wasn't I". I think he has played a blinder.

Or it'll show that he was completely wrong to have insisted on a huge debate where no-one gets any chance to say anything, rather than having a real debate with the only other person who could become PM after the election.

He's scared to debate properly, and he won't (or certainly shouldn't) be allowed to forget that. He also shouldn't be allowed to forget the 2010 quote that "I think that it is a really good thing for our democracy."

[pjclarke]

The Lynton Crosby calculation is that chicken, frit and hiding behind the sofa insults will do less damage to Cameron than a straight one-to-one debate in front of the cameras. But they will find that whenever they try to run the “weak” Ed line, Labour will have a caustic comeback – if Ed’s so weak, why is Cameron so afraid?

St. Polly.

[BolshieBastard]

Hug a hoodie dave is running frit!

[Zero Liability]

I don't know why he fears Miliband, if he does - he is a much better speaker and recent events have deflated Labour's talking points. I could understand him running from Farage. I suspect it's just risk management - the Tories are doing quite well in polls, so best not to rock the boat.

So now he's agreed to them to save face, but on conditions so restrictive they'd be rendered farcical.

[Batcher]

America has been doing these presidential debates for years and history shows the sitting president always drops down the polls afterwards because the challenger can point out what has gone wrong in the last term. Cameron was eager to take part last time but knows that he is on a hiding to nothing this time. It's not really about debating skills but purely down to who has the most to lose.

[TheFaQQer]

America has been doing these presidential debates for years and history shows the sitting president always drops down the polls afterwards because the challenger can point out what has gone wrong in the last term. Cameron was eager to take part last time but knows that he is on a hiding to nothing this time. It's not really about debating skills but purely down to who has the most to lose.

Jed Bartlett didn't drop in the polls.

[VectraMan]

Jed Bartlett didn't drop in the polls.

If I remember the episode correctly as they shook hands at the end of the debate his Republican rival said "It's over", to which Bartlett replied "You'll be back". In other words they both knew the election was already over just on their performances in one debate. Which is perhaps good, but then if you want someone to run the country for five years perhaps you shouldn't judge them on one hour of TV.

[Unix]

Most undecidedes will use the debate to make the decision on who to vote for, any screw-up will be all over the media until the election. It could decide who get's the most seats when the polls are so tight.

[d000hg]

Most undecidedes will use the debate to make the decision on who to vote for

Sadly based on factors like "he has a nice speaking voice" or "he can argue eloquently" rather than what they actually say.

[DodgyAgent]

Sadly based on factors like "he has a nice speaking voice" or "he can argue eloquently" rather than what they actually say.

Or they could try the Italian way "he's got a big kn*b"