John Armstrong: PM's gravitas won debate

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Getty Images

If there was a winner, it was John Key. But only narrowly.

Goff turned in another impressive performance following his outstanding showing in Monday night's TV3 debate.

But Key had recovered his poise and added another ingredient - the gravitas that comes from being PM.

Unlike Monday, Key also went on the attack, zeroing in on voters' doubts about the affordability of Labour's policies.

But Key was winner for another reason. Goff started behaving like he was in some university debating contest.

National's leader never forgot he was in front of a million viewers. He did not pretend to have all the answers. But he did his best to answer Guyon Espiner's questions.

Goff sounded like someone who knew all the answers.

Key would have struck a rapport with viewers. Goff's cleverness would have turned them off him.

Of the four debates:

John Key 3, Phil Goff 1