And they're off

Nick Clegg scores the endorsement of the most impressive Lib Dem in public life, Paddy Ashdown, this morning. Writing in The Guardian, Ashdown argues that Clegg is the man to take the Lib Dems to the next level and the candidate the Tories fear.

Chris Huhne, the main threat to Nick Clegg’s, has given interviews to both The Guardian and The Independent touting his ability to take on Gordon Brown and emphasising the dangers of appearing to be too similar to David Cameron.

Talking to the Independent Huhne makes one of the oddest campaign pledges in recent British political history, "You will not find me or Nick streaking down the high streets of Britain like la Cicciolina, the Italian Radical porn star.” Another example of those famed Lib Dem media handling skills.