Nick Clegg speaks to the media after returning to the Liberal Democrat headquarters in London
He went from zero to hero overnight, but how to assess Nick Clegg's campaign? Thanks to Britain's first-ever televised debate, Clegg's clear, concise manner — along with his strategy of playing the change card against the old-style politics offered by his rivals — made him a household name and helped him trend upward on Twitter. One opinion poll suggested he was almost as popular as Sir Winston Churchill. And "I agree with Nick" — a sentence Brown used repeatedly during that first debate — became a new catchphrase for the nation.
But for all the hype, the Liberal Democrats won only 57 seats, and Clegg was forced to admit on Friday that it had been a "disappointing night" for his party as voters "decided to stick with what they knew best" by choosing either the Conservatives or Labour. Even more disappointing, no doubt, was the fact that the Lib Dems ended the night down five seats from their 2005 total. But if the Conservative–Liberal Democrat pact comes off, Clegg may well find himself with a position in the Cabinet, giving Cameron plenty of opportunity to "agree with Nick."