Presidential Debates. Good or bad?

[MX7]

Following some discussion on Question Time, we've seen the last of the first US style Presidential debates. Has it changed our outlook of voting? Has it changed the outlook of our parties? Is it good to have the perception of one man to influence the party we vote for? Is it something we should do in the future? Is it something that should never be repeated?

I was a complete sceptic before they happened. I didn't believe that people would be influenced by 90 minutes of X Factor politics. I was very wrong, and I never believed that a certain look in the eye and an easy smile would make a difference.

Personally, I'm pleasantly surprised. I never thought we would rid ourselves of the Union backed idiocy that has been so domineering over the last few decades. If we come out of this with a liberal'ish left party fighting against a reasonably socially aware capitalist party, I'll be delighted. I think that this country can progress far faster without the constraints that a union influenced Labour had to operate under.