Tony looks like a PM, Julia wins on points

THIS was Tony Abbott's best moment.

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott greet each other at the start of last night’s leaders’ debate in Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange

THIS was Tony Abbott's best moment.

He may not have outpointed Julia Gillard but he exceeded expectations and looked, as never before, a viable prime minister.

In her body language, fluent confidence and style Gillard looked assured. But the worm's verdict, 63 per cent to 37 per cent against Abbott, does not tally with performance or merit. As a debate, this was very close.

Gillard may have won narrowly on points by convincing the public of her prime ministerial authority. But Abbott - facing ruin from any repeat of his failed health debate with Kevin Rudd - avoided blunders and repeatedly exposed Labor's flawed record. The Liberals now have a chance to rally behind an invigorated Abbott.

Pivotal to the debate was the Gillard personality. It may be pivotal to the election result. Our first female Prime Minister taps into a honeymoon store of goodwill. Her smile, firmness and appeal seem to prevail over her rehearsed lines and hovering glibness.

A frowning Abbott kept his aggression and nerves under control, kept repeating he was "fair dinkum" and relied on his text to avoid any final blunder. Both leaders were smart to curb their attack lines and emphasise their positives, essential in this sort of debate.

On last night's performance, Gillard was wise to limit their encounters to just one debate. After all, Abbott might keep improving.