Ask the Chancellors: the internet reaction
Updated on 29 March 2010
The blogosphere was alive with debate and analysis during the Ask the Chancellors debate on Channel 4. Here are some of the things our followers said.
As soon as the clock struck 8pm and our would-be chancellors started debating, the internet was teeming with opinion.
A number of tweeters were keen to back Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor, who came out top in our online poll with 36 per cent.
Cable's popularity saw a surge after he called the live debate a "love-in", sparking audience laughter.
"Just watched ask the chancellors, sometimes felt it was a love-in!!!!" said @andrewventhem.
@Ian_Fraser summed it all up by tweeting that the Lib Dems must be "delighted" with Cable's performance during the debate.
"Publicity without responsibility for Vince. A hung parliament edges closer," he said.
More on Channel 4’s Ask the Chancellors debate
- Ask the Chancellors: debate highlights
- Ask the Chancellors: audience reaction
- Ask the Chancellors: live blog
- Ask the Chancellors: FactCheck
- Gary Gibbon: Cable man of the match
- Gary Gibbon: Cable wins, but nobody ganged up on him
Some viewer opinion went so far as to add that the other "chancellors" were keen to Join forces with the Lib Dems.
"It's clear that Darling wants to join up with Cable," Joe Spivey said on our live blog.
The Conservatives' George Osborne prompted a mixed response. Some criticised his responses while others, such as @torybear, tweeted "for better of worse he is the only one sticking to the question".
@rmarriott30 said: "Nice comment by Osborne - it is your money, not our money - policies based on teamwork and values."
The blogosphere was curiously quiet on about the Chancellor Alistair Darling although some, such as @PaulWaugh picked up on him saying people "would be depressed" for watching the Ask the Chancellors debate.
On the live blog Padge5 said that Darling was "shockingly undervalued" by the poll.
Whatever the decision on the chancellors, one thing is certain: social interaction was crucial and set the tone for the up and coming leaders' debates.
@rich_w said: "Sets a very high standard and level of expectation for the leaders’ debates, doesn’t it?
@MatthewWells tweeted his "final verdict": "This is what a social media election looks like," he said.
"Led by TV, picked apart on the digital back channel."
