2,997,000 possible leader debates (!)

Harper, Iggy and Layton - at Harper's initial suggestion yesterday - appear willing to debate one-on-one. Done poorly, which I expect it would be, such a change in the time-tested debate format would be profoundly undemocratic, possibly creating first- and second-tier parties.

But it's not going to happen, of course - it's just early days skirmishing (or "squirmishing," as Sarah Palin might have it).

Still, when Andrew Potter tweeted on whether anyone could crunch the numbers on how just how many debates is meant by the leaders' bravura in making themselves available to tussle "anytime, anyplace," Mike Moffatt, a lecturer in business, economics and public policy at London's Ivey School of Business, who blogs at Worthwhile Canadian Initiative, couldn't resist the challenge.

Emerging from the math cloud, slide rule in splinters, Mike reports:

With 810 possible times {of day between now and May 1, a day before the vote] and 3,700 possible locations [roughly the number of Canadian communities], there are almost 3 million (2,997,000) possible debates.

Which is 2,996,998 fewer debates than we will be made to endure. BTW, the English debate is now set for April 12, the French for April 14. Mark your calendars and have the popcorn ready.