UK Lib Dem leader faces furious media backlash

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg experienced the downside of his new popularity on Thursday when Britain's Conservative-supporting newspapers savaged him. Clegg, 43, has been projected from outsider to central player ahead of Britain's May 6 election after an assured performance in last week's televised leaders' debate. Britain's electoral system means the Liberal Democrats are almost certain not to win the election but they could end up holding the balance of power if the vote proves inconclusive. Clegg woke up on Thursday to find himself the target of a number of negative newspaper headlines. Analysts said the Liberal Democrats would have to learn to live with greater media scrutiny. His party issued a statement denying any wrongdoing over a Daily Telegraph report that party donors had paid money directly into his bank account. The Daily Express headlined "Clegg's Crazy Immigration Policy" and tabloid rival the Daily Mail led with "Clegg in Nazi Slur on Britain", referring to an article he wrote in 2002 when a member of the European parliament. Clegg wrote that Britain had "a misplaced sense of superiority" stemming from the defeat of Germany in 1945. Clegg, 43, was philosophical about the backlash after newspapers had a few days ago compared his popularity with that of wartime leader Winston Churchill. "I must be the first politician who's gone from being Churchill to being a Nazi in under a week," Clegg told reporters. "I hope people won't be bullied and be frightened into not choosing something different."