The gloves come off the election campaign

Watching last week's leaders debate I felt slighty uncomfortable that both Cameron and Brown were being so nice to Clegg, with the 'I agree with Nick' line. This just felt wrong. It also probably reflected the fact that Cameron, in particular, had not factored Clegg or the Lib Dems into his calculations.

It was somewhat predictable that eventually the gloves would come off. So in a rather perverse way I am rather pleased about the headings in today's Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail. It proves that the Lib Dems have got under the establishment's skin. Moreover, the fact that such stories are surfacing allows us to see both Clegg's and the Liberal Democrat's mettle. Do they really have the ability to play a major role? If they are not tested, and do not rise to the occasion then maybe they should not have our votes. But if they do rise to the occasion the Lib Dems will be in a better position.

I am not convinced that either story is going to be a big problem. Having read Clegg's actual 2002 article in The Guardian I really can't see what the fuss is, and I doubt anyone who does not read The Mail would either. The Telegraph's claims are more problematic, but my antennae is saying that this was not best practice and so unwise but it does not feel dodgy. I'm really not convinced it will hit home, especially if the necessary paperwork is indeed produced. In fact, both stories may actually backfire, and be viewed as smears as fuel to the fire that there needs to be change to the existign system.

What actually may have more effect is the use of satire online. Already mainstream journalists are linking to #nickcleggsfault on Twitter where people are blaming Clegg for all sorts of riduclous things, such as the person who could not find his tin of beans for lunch. This sort of humour may well take the sting out of such personal attacks by the media. Perhaps more importantly for the Labour and especially Conservative Party strategists it does suggest that the British public know what they like and don't like. And I am not convinced they like what the Establishment may be trying to do.