Today’s YouGov poll reveals a huge surge in support for the Liberal Democrats.  Nick Clegg’s performance in the first of three TV debates has put the LibDems  in 2nd place ahead of Labour and just three points behind the Tories.  The figures published in The Sun this morning show Conservative 33%(-4), Labour 28%(-3), LibDem 30%(+8). The effect on our poll of polls average will be seen if and when further polls reflect this shift.

The LibDem bounce is likely to enjoy the considerable oxygen of publicity which may boost their share further setting up a scenario where they are a contender genuine contender for to win, in time for the 2nd TV debate next Thursday.  So is this the TV election or can it still be influenced by social media.  Well it is both.  The verdict on who had won the election came first from social networks. Social media analytics companies were measuring sentiment in real time and publishing the data whilst the debate was still in flow.   Clegg’s performance delivered 10,000 additional fans on Facebook and in the coming days the force of the groundswell in social media support for the third party (or do we now say second?) will make the leap into mainstream commentary.