With stiff competition from Obama, and complaints from disgruntled Lib Dem attendees, Nick Clegg entered this afternoon’s keynote speech with ground to make up.

Nevertheless, his approach was positive. Shrugging off the unfortunate news that a third of the electorate don’t know who he is, Clegg declared four times that "I want to be Prime Minister".

More upbeat than his home affairs spokesman yesterday, the party leader put greater emphasis on Lib Dem strength and policy detail, announcing a “new promise to young people that they will not be unemployed for longer than 90 days before we find them work or training” under a “paid internship” scheme.

However, beneath the grandiose rhetoric Clegg looked somewhat insecure. Long pauses, which have become characteristic of his public speaking style, brief stutters, and awkward references to Brad Pitt and his wedding anniversary jarred with the lofty aspirations he espoused. Meanwhile, nods to Paddy and Ming in the audience came across like appeals for parental approval.

It has been a difficult conference for Clegg and, cutting a slight figure somewhat marooned on that podium, it looked like the stress was taking its toll.