Well, I am delighted that James said it first:
Assuming (Clegg) does get elected however, I do hope he will spend the Christmas break working out where he went wrong over the campaign and getting some serious media training.
I listened to Huhne and Clegg on Today this morning (available to listen here under "0750 Who will be the next leader of the liberal democrats?). I resisted the temptation to fire off a blog about it immediately - I would have risked getting another pile of steaming Norfolk manure dumped over my head.
But James has now said what I was thinking, so I can venture gingerly forth.
Let's face it guys, Clegg is very weak in the media environment. On Today this morning he was in danger of entering the Guinness Book of Records for the world record number "ums" and "ahs" and "errs" in the shortest space of time on a broadcast interview. Huhne, in contrast, got his messages out sharply and forcefully with no hesitation. He sounded great.
If Clegg becomes leader, there is certainly one media engagement he should avoid like the plague.
Don't for goodness sake go on "Just a Minute", Nick! You'll be kiboshed for hesitation, deviation and repetition within half a nano second of starting.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Advice to Nick Clegg: Don't go on "Just a Minute"
Written by Paul on Tuesday, December 04, 2007
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8 comments:
Repetition of "media".
I find this bizarre - Nick did not "um and ah" his way through the interview at all - were we listening to the same piece? Interestingly, I note that The Spectator blog (which has a vested interest in belittling the likely leader of our party) also this morning refers to Nick stumbling and stuttering all the way through the interview. Fortunately I suspect more of our members will have heard the interview than will read the blogs!
The only "stuttering" came when Nick was asked about whether or not Vince Cable should have run for leader. After a hesitant start, he then made a joke about Chris and himself being grateful Vince didn't run and then heaped praise on Vince - this was the perfect way of handling that question and quickly neutralised the one second of spluttering or stumbling. In fact, it made him sound natural.
I thought it was a very evenly matched performance. Chris came across as slick and professional. Nick came across as optimistic and positive, talking of the future and always taking care to referring to the specific needs and desires of voters outside of our own party. We need to be doing this more.
So James Graham was listening to a different interview as well was he, Robin?
And this "vested interest" stuff is well past its sell-by date.
Hi Paul,
That's exactly why I used the word 'bizarre". I just don't recognise the description of the Today interview at all - not from this blog and not from James's. I just didn't think Nick stumbled through it. I actually thought it was a pretty good advert for the party, with both our candidates showing their different approach to communicating with the voters. I'm a Nick fan but I think Chris did well in the Today interview - I just happen to think Nick did well too and did not stumble through it.
As for the 'vested interest' thing with the Spectator, my view is that the Spectactor, as the Tory house rag, fears a strong Lib Dem leader who can appeal to Tory voters in the Lib Dem/Tory marginals. I have not been present on this blog in the past so if that view is "past its sell by date" then I didn't realise that. It wasn't a case of me intentionally repeating things that have already been discussed.
Thanks Robin - fair enough on the "vested interest" point - I accept your point there.
I didn't say Nick "stumbled through" the interview. The phrase I used is that this interview was symptomatic of "very weak" media skills.
Similarly, James Graham didn't use the phrase "stumbled through", he said that Nick "waffled" and that "Clegg came off as dramatically weaker than Huhne...The difference was obvious."
Thank goodness he won't be great on that dreadful show `Just a minute` - old-fashioned nonsense that.
As for media presence i found it very even and also saw Nick on the Politics Show talking about children in the little pod - came across as a complete natural!
Well, I've listened to it now and they seem to be pretty evenly matched for 'um's and 'er's.
But, there was a rather odd thump followed by a moan about 40 seconds in - what was going on?
"But, there was a rather odd thump followed by a moan about 40 seconds in - what was going on?"
Probably, based on what I've heard of both candidates over the past few weeks, the interviewer nodding off, banging his head on the table and then moaning after he woke up and realised that he'd have to listen to them droning on.
Must say that this particular bystander would like to see a liberal leader with some charisma. Whichever of these wins is going to have a hard time registering in the public's consciousness and that, IMO, is the last thing that the Libdems - of all parties - needs.
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