Obama triumphs in NZ debate

Barack Obama was the winner in last night's final leaders' debate, with his victory prompting an outbreak of goodwill between Labour's Helen Clark and National's John Key.

The United States President-elect's historic win overshadowed the TVNZ debate. Coming straight from watching the victory speech of Obama and the gracious concession speech of Republican candidate John McCain, a slightly subdued Clark and Key hit new standards of politeness and familiarity during their debate. Both praised Obama and claimed a good omen from his victory.

Key said he had been deeply affected by Obama's "historic, moving win", while Clark said the Democrat's victory was "an incredible day for progressive politics".

Obama's win was "a vote for change", Key said. The win was a "vote against Right-wing deregulation", said Clark.

Clark said she "felt a lump in my throat" while watching Obama's speech and even pinched his line about "the audacity of hope".

"I'm sure you will both see what you want to see in that result," said host Mark Sainsbury.

While familiar topics such as the economy, law and order, and climate change were again traversed with predictable replies, the interest in last night's debate was in the personal concessions of the two leaders.

Clark admitted to having "had a puff" of a tobacco as a teenager and, in an answer to whether she had tried cannabis, quoted an answer previously given to broadcaster Paul Holmes: "You and I were students in the 1960s."

Key said he had never smoked anything in his life.

"I never had a puff and I never inhaled."

Both owned up to breaking the law in their youth, but only for minor traffic offences.

Key said he once drove his car on a "carless day" during the 1970s, and Clark said she had received "a couple of speeding tickets".

Both said they did not believe in God or in an afterlife, and that it was a woman's right to choose on abortion.

At one point, Clark appeared to be talking for both leaders, more than once referring to the pair as "we".

Asked whether they would attend a party together, Clark allowed that if the pair were not in politics "we might enjoy a beer or a cup of coffee together".

Key agreed, saying that while the pair would not be exchanging Christmas cards, "I think we can see good in each other".

The debate was a far cry from the first televised clash of the campaign, in which the pair repeatedly spoke over each other and after which Clark complained she had not been treated fairly by Sainsbury and that Key had displayed "tantrum-like" behaviour.

After the debate last night, Clark agreed the show had been influenced by the US election.

"We've seen the magnanimity from the US candidates towards each other today and that may well have been the background against which we came into it," she said.

"I thought it probably opened up new insights into both the leaders."

Key agreed the debate had been different but denied they were tired and ready for polling day.

"I thought it was a good opportunity to exchange some ideas in a pretty orderly fashion and for New Zealanders to see a slightly different side of me and Helen Clark," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News