Helen Clark demonstrated superior debating skills in her final face-off with Don Brash on TV3 last night.
The finger-pointing Clark ("I want you to tell me, Dr Brash ... ") repeatedly pricked the National leader's facade on issues ranging from foreign policy to the affordability of his party's tax cuts.
But Clark's performance did not have its usual lethal force.
The political dominatrix - whose regime has been termed "Helengrad" - did not (this time) force any embarrassing gaffes from the man who wants her job.
For once Brash managed to stay onsong. He rammed home the benefits of his tax cuts proposals even when not relevant to the debate. He slipped into central bank governor mode on the nuclear ships issue when it required a more fiery and attacking response.
But Mogadon Man was up against Mogadon Woman.
Clark played up her passion for New Zealand to be the "best small country in the world" (Jenny Shipley used the cliche first).
Brash managed to force an admission from Clark that it was by no means a foregone conclusion that Labour would go into a coalition with the Greens. ("There's an awful lot of water to go under the bridge at this point.")
But the debate was flat. The outside questions were inane and one-sided. Clark won on performance. Brash on substance.
Roll on tomorrow's election so viewers can be relieved of this misery.
