The Maclean’s Politics Panel: Four key moments in the economic debate

Our Ottawa bureau dissects the campaign’s second debate

<p>Journalists watch a T.V. as the Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Miliken tallies votes in the the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Tuesday, May 10, 2005 the Conservative party and Bloc Quebecois are pushing for a non-confidence vote. (CP Photo/Jonathan Hayward)</p>

Journalists watch a T.V. as the Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Miliken tallies votes in the the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Tuesday, May 10, 2005 the Conservative party and Bloc Quebecois are pushing for a non-confidence vote. (CP Photo/Jonathan Hayward)

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau (L), NDP leader Thomas Mulcair (C) and Conservative leader Stephen Harper walk on stage before photo opportunity prior to the beginning of  the Globe and Mail Leaders Debate in Calgary, Alberta September 17, 2015. (MIKE STURK/Reuters)
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau (L), NDP leader Thomas Mulcair (C) and Conservative leader Stephen Harper walk on stage before photo opportunity prior to the beginning of the Globe and Mail Leaders Debate in Calgary, Alberta September 17, 2015. (MIKE STURK/Reuters)

The word of the night was “crosstalk.” It pops up over and over in the transcript of Thursday’s economic policy debate among The Conservatives’ Stephen Harper, the NDP’s Thomas Mulcair and the Liberals’ Justin Trudeau, marking the moments when they tried so hard to talk over each and that none could be understood. But the debate offered numerous flashes of clarity, too. Harper making a dark allegation about his rivals’ position on refugees. Mulcair presenting himself as a staunch defender of the family. Trudeau repeatedly asserting his desire to tax the rich. Here are four telling exchanges, dissected by Paul Wells and John Geddes, with Cormac MacSweeney hosting the conservation.

h1 style=”text-align: center;”>THE HEADLINES