THE debate among the four Grenadian leaders Wednesday night never really caught on. There were little sidebars especially between Dr Francis Alexis of the People’s Labour Movement and Dr Keith Mitchell of the New National Party, but nothing on which it will be remembered.

The dynamism was just not there, though if you insist I would say the outstanding performer was PLM’s Dr Francis Alexis.

He was always known as a good debater and in the context of everything he delivered. He was the most commanding, sharpest on his feet, and sometimes even witty, and as a performance – which most times these debates are - he was the most convincing.

The debate was always going to be a contest between Alexis and Mitchell, which at most times it was – only just that the magic never catch on – disappointingly.

Because his government has a record to defend, Mitchell was always destined to play defense, especially to the onslaught of Alexis and in on a few occasions by Tillman Thomas of the National Democratic Congress as well. He almost always adequately handled himself without ever scoring a homerun.

Got the feeling that the Prime Minister came into it the most prepared.

Alexis proved last night why, in many watchers’ view, he should at least be a member of parliament. He would help lift the quality of the debate there.

But Dr Mitchell made a pertinent and strong comment to the end – that of the four leaders on the podium only he was certain of winning his seat.

Actually never thought about it, but frankly it is a useful political argument.

The NNP has skillfully tried to make the point that NDC leader Thomas, who three times lost his seat in St Patrick’s East is destined to do so again. But the truth of the matter is that some polling has shown though, that it is the incumbent Adrian Mitchell who might be on the ropes this time.

Thomas too, though less convincingly is likely to join Mitchell in the next parliament.

But things do look bleaker for Alexis, and especially Payne-Banfield.

In terms of last night’s debate, the good and bad thing for all the leaders was that it would not have not necessarily help change any minds or for that matter help anyone make up any minds. It was that ineffective.

I am not sure the last night events advanced anyone’s platform, and I guess the way it was structured, it did not allow enough time for anyone to score big or for that matter seriously stumble.

It might have been a rating success for the stations, but beyond that not sure if the event served any useful purpose. The candidates broke no new ground and simply failed to inspire.

Nobody self destructed, though Payne-Banfield and Thomas were always destined to struggle because of their less combative style.

But both of them succeed in coming across as honest – something you did not always seem to feel either about Mitchell or Alexis, as good as their performances were.

I thought Payne Banfield in particular did much better than I’d expect, especially judging from her performances on the campaign trail.

Thomas never has a commanding presence and his almost hunch stand during the debate at the podium did not help either. He saved the best for last though – his wrap up comments being his most convincing few seconds of the night.

Based on all that’s happening here, I still do not think that elections have been won or lost by any of the two parties in with the real chance – NNP and NDC.

Some of the polling seems to be all over the place. Two of the latest ones that I have seen cannot be more diametrically different. One. claiming to be an independent poll shows NDC winning 11-4, and another sponsored by the incumbent and done by a local accounting firm shows NNP winning 14-1. Something’s got to be wrong here. My own fifth sense is that both are way off the mark. It will be closer than that.

But the good thing is that we won’t have to wait too long again to know the results. It’s only a week from now.

SOURCE: CARIBUPDATE.COM