my impression: An awkward debate. Four people asking, two people answering. Not that the four journalists were able to add more substance to the debate...

None of both contenders were able to score a big point. Both were quite weak, sometimes stuttering, confusing words. I'd say that the last TV debates three years ago between Schröder and Stoiber were more important.

Probably the most important effect: Merkel with no major faux pas, looked more relaxed than many people expected.