Okay well, the debate is raging. I missed the earlier ones, and with Stephen Harper apparently decisively ahead in the polls - this one is critical.

Lots of talking about minimum sentences at the beginning. Seems the three national parties are in favour of it, except the Bloc. Hmm - that doesn't leave a lot of options. I'm opposed to minimum sentences, not to mention that they may be against the Charter. I guess the leaders went to law school before R. v. Smith.

Layton talks directly to the camera, slowly and clearly. He's doing the best job of addressing me directly, but his speech is a little too rehearsed and polished. He sounds more like an ad man than someone mid-debate. Talk to the other leaders as well as the cameras Jack!

Duceppe is remarkably amusing. Doesn't have a lot to lose in an English debate I guess... he can say what he thinks, and much of it is smart.

Martin wasn't all that strong during the debate; unlike Jack, he doesn't seem to be addressing MOI! But he gets a great end coup with his dig at Harper's alternate childcare plan (After taxes, it's $1 a day - though I'm not sure how the math works on that one - even taxed at 50% it'd be closer to $2 a day). Martin thinks childcare could be our generation's health care and it would be criminal to let it pass. Certainly a good parting shot. I also liked his proposed removal of the notwithstanding clause - but then as a law-head, I'm down with that.

Harper smiles a lot during the debate. It's sort of a half-smile, seems a little slippery. And someone needs to do something about his hair - makes his head look square.

I'm not sure a lot will have shifted in this debate - scanning the blogs it seems most find that the person they were already planning to vote for did the best. Could this mean a Conservative victory? Or, like last time, will it turn out that their support is too concentrated?