Scotland's pro-independence leader steamrolls final TV debate before vote

Leader of the 'Better Together' campaign and former British minister Alistair Darling (L) listens to Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond (R) during the second live television debate on Scottish independence in Glasgow, Scotland on August 25, 2014. AFP Photo

Scotland's pro-independence leader Alex Salmond easily won a final TV debate on Monday night just over three weeks before a breakaway referendum, but it wasn't clear if this would help him catch up in the polls.
   
In a bruising debate before the Sept. 18 referendum, Salmond relentlessly talked over Alistair Darling, the leader of the anti-independence movement, arguing Scotland would be wealthier, freer and better governed if it went it alone.
   
With the campaign to break up the United Kingdom and sever Scotland's 307-year union with England trailing in opinion polls by an average of up to 14 percentage points, Salmond's supporters were looking for a game-changing performance after he lost the first such encounter.
   
Salmond, 59, did much better this time.
   
In a snap Guardian/ICM poll, 71 percent of over 500 respondents judged that Salmond had won, against 29 percent who said they thought Darling had triumphed.
   
If Scotland, with its $250-billion (150-billion-pound) economy, 5.2 million people, oil industry, and nuclear submarine base, leaves Britain, with its $2.5 trillion economy and 63 million people, the consequences would be profound.
   
Britain's three main political parties want it to stay in the union, which includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
   
Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University, a polling expert, agreed that Salmond had comfortably won the debate. But he questioned whether the nationalist leader's rhetorical victory would translate into a win at the ballot box.
   
"A debate doesn't necessarily win you votes," said Curtice, adding that the evening had been notable for its lack of proper discussion about wider economic...

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