Mike's Minute: A much livelier debate

I think most people would agree with the winner, wouldn't they?

Andrew Webster deserved the Dally M Coach of the Year.

But back here we seemed to call it for Chris Hipkins.

I'll come back to that, but a couple of broadcasting notes for TVNZ, given Newshub's effort last night was in a completely different league.

- Get an audience that reacts because it brings life to a broadcast

- Get a moderator with a personality and some energy. At times Paddy Gower is a mile over the top and says a lot of random stuff. But he is engaged, he is having fun, and he wants to get the most out of every moment.

It is, and has been, in many respects the difference between TV3 and TV1 for years.

So, to the winner and I have a couple of questions;

Was Hipkins declared the winner by the so-called experts merely because he was more lively than debate one? And was a winner declared because people seem to want to have a result?

It's sort of like going to the doctor. It doesn't matter how innocuous your issue is, unless you get a script for pills or potions you feel ripped off. So who spends that long watching two men argue if we can't decide who won it?

The point being is Hipkins, if you want to give him the prize, simply argued a lot, at times, for the sake of it.

In arguing a lot, do you help your cause or are you simply looking to deflect away from your case and try and put the spotlight on the other bloke?

I am not saying he didn't win. But, to be honest, I am not sure I learned a lot.

They will both sort feral cats. Hipkins had a road cone in his student flat. Neither had taken MDMA.

The one prime ministerial moment I will give to Hipkins is when he refused to hand out knighthoods, saying it's not something a Prime Minister does in public. It's the difference between a person with the job and the responsibilities versus everyone else who can say what they want.

And that, I guess, is the trouble with debates. It's hard to find the balance between the stuff that needs debating, like the economy, and the stuff that doesn't like 'gotcha' questions and knighthoods.

The other point is this - are these things material? If you give the win to Hipkins does it move the needle? Will we see the gap close in the next poll? Given it's 10 points, do you save your hide and party with a debate?

I don't think so. And given there are two more debates, what the hell do they cover?

We know their favourite beaches, books and drug habits. Is there an original question left to ask?

Will you be back for more?

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