23/04/2010

Election Fever Continues

Over a quarter of voters have yet to make their minds up on the General Election.

This emerged after Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems all sought to boost their election campaigns following last night's confrontational TV prime ministerial debate.

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg clashed over Europe, campaign tactics, tax and nuclear weapons.

Labour said Mr Brown won on "substance" while the Tories said Mr Cameron gave a more assured performance.

The Lib Dems say both failed to land a "knockout blow" on Mr Clegg, as polls still point towards a hung parliament.

Instant polls after Thursday's debate, hosted by Sky News in Bristol, gave conflicting verdicts about whether Mr Cameron or Mr Clegg came out on top.

A Sky News poll of polls had them tied with an average of 33% against Mr Brown on 27%.

Asked about poll ratings putting Mr Brown in third place, Labour's election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander said no commentators could know what the result of the election would be.

It was estimated that between 25% and 30% of voters had not made their minds up and there was a "huge opportunity" for all parties, he told the BBC. He said Mr Brown had emerged as "an energised candidate" who "dominated on substance".

(BMcC/GK)

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