Speaking of the Guardian poll, there is little that emerges from it to cheer the Liberal Democrats as their Bournemouth conference draws to a close.
Run the poll’s findings through Electoral Calculus and you will find that it predicts a net loss of 26 seats for the Lib Dems, including two in Wales.
Lib Dem election planners may consequently decide that it would be better for them to seek to benefit from the collapse in support for Labour, rather than try to shore up seats under attack from the Tories.
If they do, Mr Clegg will have to adopt a change in rhetoric; calling David Cameron a conman won’t help in vulnerable Labour seats such as Liverpool Wavertree, where, on BBC Breakfast this morning, one lady who was shown a picture of the Lib Dem leader thought he was Peter Mandelson.
