Even the BBC has to concede: Romney ‘won’ the debate, massively.

As diligent readers here know, it’s not what you say – it’s what you hear. And much of what you hear when someone is speaking is subliminal – all about eye-contact, body posture, energy, openness, positive enthusiasm.

Mitt Romney scored well on all these. President Obama looked too often shifty, uncertain, wonkish, defensive.

And when Obama cheer-leader Andrew (believe me, I am a true conservative) Sullivan calls it as a disaster for Obama, you can be sure that it did not go well for him. Viewers ‘heard’ from Obama pessimism and negativity, from Romney optimism and can-do energy. Romney in effect captured Hope and Change back from the Democrats.

So to give credit where credit is due, Ed Miliband likewise did well by contriving to appropriate the country’s positive Olympic Spirit and talk up the One Nation idea in Labour’s favour. You heard the words – you also ‘heard’ and felt the idea.

Public speaking: a lot more to it than meets the eye – or the ear.