I try to be objective about these things. In 2010, when I made the biggest mistake of my life campaigning for the Lib Dems, as everyone around me whooped and hollered at Clegg's final debate performance, I thought: "He's just completely blown it".
Corbyn, thankfully, did not completely blow it in last night's debate, which I finally had a chance to watch. I scored it either a draw or a wafer thin Corbyn victory. Which means this election is still too close to call.
Did Corbyn do much wrong? No. But he didn't land a knockout blow either - and as the challenger, there's more onus on him to do that. Johnson's constant Brexit this Brexit that wasn't dealt with as effectively as it could've been.
Even on something as simple as Johnson flat out lying how it's "gonna take another year of dithering" when Labour will sort the whole thing for good within 6 months, Corbyn didn't make that as clear as he really needed to.
That's how fake news works. When rebuttals aren't as clear and sharp as they need to be. What was a lot better, though, was Corbyn focusing again and again on the SEVEN YEARS more of Brexit we'd have under the Tories.
I also wish he could've highlighted - because nobody ever does - that fully two-thirds of Tory members are Islamophobic. That is a monstrous scandal which has barely even been touched upon.
As for Johnson? I swear his nose was getting longer and longer with each answer. But whenever he says "we have a deal, it's oven ready", how in the world has no-one on Corbyn's team told him to shoot back "oven ready? It's a turkey!" This is really basic stuff guys.
Overall: Corbyn miles ahead on substance; Johnson well ahead on style. Some good audience questions but not as good as on ITV a couple of weeks back. Nick Robinson was surprisingly decent too.
But my biggest issue with the whole thing?
But my biggest issue with the whole thing?
We have 11 years - in fact, it's about to become 10 years - to save our planet and our species. And there was not one question about it. That is astounding. Nothing could better sum up how debased British politics has become than that.
Labour aren't just the only party with answers on that. Labour have an actual vision to transform our economy and make it both a thriving and environmentally sustainable one. That's the thread running through the manifesto; it's absurd Corbyn wasn't given the chance to discuss it
As I say though: it's too close to call. Every voter you persuade to choose Labour matters. Every single vote counts. We can do it - but only if we give everything, absolutely everything, between now and 10pm next Thursday.
