Election 2024: Mick Clifford — Only real loser from leaders' debate was the undecided voter

Simon Harris, Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald were pretty solid, but none were spectacular or anything approaching it, writes Mick Clifford 

Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Simon Harris at Tuesday's debate. Picture: Maxwell’s

So it turned out that the leaders' debate didn’t live up to its billing. Nothing unusual there. 

The occasions when such an event exceeds expectations tend to come unexpectedly. This time the anticipation was built up for two separate reasons.