Didn't watch it, LISTENED to it....the difference can be striking. (Kennedy/Nixon anyone?)
However, I found Martin a capable speaker, in spite of the fact that he was obviously without a platform and backpedalling ferociously. Then he and Duceppe had to get into a pointless argument we've been hearing for years.
Layton spoke well, but I would never vote NDP. The NDP has done well with Layton tho...he looks intelligent, and if you're not from the GTA, you might even be tempted to think so.
Steven Harper was up to the task of speaking, but wasn't screamingly engaging or anything...nevertheless, I know what his platform is, because he made a point of stating and restating it clearly. I can't say anyone else did that, except for Duceppe, who is irrelevant outside of Quebec. Martin is for all sorts of things, including playing with the constitution for no apparent reason, and Layton is for more government programs, but doesn't really expect to win....but you should remember that there is a third alternative.
Did anyone win the debates? No. But Steven Harper managed not to lose, and he did that while leading the polls. I'm sure that will count for something in the long run.
One thing I noticed this year, is that the leaders have been saying the same things in English and French. Our political history is such that usually they say *different* things in English and French. It's nice not to hear them bullshitting anymore. Maybe the Canadian press has finally caught up to the rest of the world, and found competent translators in the past few years....