We had the weird experience of the prime minister and deputy prime minister laying out their opposing cases on an important change to our political system this morning.
David Cameron and Nick Clegg's speeches provide their opposing cases on the alternative vote in an awfully polite, chummy way.
Despite the artificial atmosphere, both sides of the campaign, and Cameron and Clegg are guilty of pushing some dubious claims about their respective favoured voting systems. Or second favoured voting system for Clegg because AV is a poor substitute for their beloved proportional representation.
In an article in the current issue of Total Politics out now, Alan Renwick lays out the myths of the alternative system.
I'd recommend it to you to find out why Renwick, author of A Citizen's Guide to Electoral Reform says AV is not more likely to promote smaller parties, and by implication the BNP, or why AV does not implicitly improve MPs' integrity, plus other 'myths ' of the debate.
On a quiet Friday, both speeches have gained widespread attention, but a line in Clegg's speech highlights why the campaign is yet to fire fully.
He said: "It is evolution not revolution."
Those against AV will disagree it is as minor as that – but currently the campaign remains a sideshow to arguments about our economic recovery and the reforms coming out of Whitehall as such speed.
Unless both sides work out a way or articulating why this theme is essential to our lives I worry deeply about turnout.
The fact the main political leaders (Ed Miliband has a split party so is hamstrung) fail to get excited does not bode well. It is now up to the Yes and No campaigns.
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