Thursday, January 1, 2009

Clegg: Seen as "down-to-earth"..."someone I could relate to"...not confused with poshie Cameron and better known than Cable...so there!

Some interesting research today in the Independent:

The research concluded that Mr Clegg was the Liberal Democrats' best asset even though he is unknown to many voters. The party's strategy in the new year will be based on giving him as high a profile as possible.

It's the old story. When shown photos and videos of Cleggie, the great British public warm to him. The biggest problem is that they don't know who the Sam Hill he is.

There is a lot of good news for Nick Clegg in this research, which suggests it is an excellent bit of spinning by someone in Cowley Street! (Well done and trebles all round!)

Women, who like him more than men do, regard the Liberal Democrat leader as "nice-looking, presentable, personable and likeable", according to the research. Among men, he is viewed as "down-to-earth" and "someone I could relate to". People saw his body language as "in control" and "welcoming".

The focus groups suggest that, contrary to rumours in the Westminster village, people do not confuse Mr Clegg with Mr Cameron. The Liberal Democrat leader is seen as more forceful and authoritative without being "posh". People wish him well – but want to know more about him and his family.

Nor has Mr Clegg been eclipsed by Vince Cable, the party's Treasury spokesman, who has won plaudits for his performance on the economy and for predicting the personal debt crisis and housing bubble. Among ordinary voters, it seems, Mr Clegg is better known than Mr Cable.


So, Clegg looks set fair to garner the rewards of the high General Election visibility which LibDems always pray for. But, as usual, it's a sort of white knuckle/bungee jump scenario until then!

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