Ming Campbell's leadership of the Lib Dems has come under attack over the last three days in the newspapers.

Both The Independent ('Delayed election revives criticism of Lib Dem leader') and The Telegraph ('Sir Ming warned as Lib Dems seek poll boost') have used rather selective quotes from Lib Dem blogs to suggest that Ming is under coming under great pressure.

Lib Dem bloggers have railed against the highly pejorative use of their good offices.  But clearly all is not well in the world of the Lib Dems.  An IPSOS MORI poll in today's Sun puts the Lib Dems on 11% (-5) with all that support seemingly switching to the Tories who are on 41% (+7). ('Cam gives Gord a poll battering')

Ming Campbell took over the leadership of the Liberal Democrats at a difficult time. Charles Kennedy's drawn out and ugly resignation left the party feeling bruised and vulnerable.

Ming's appeal was to give the party a period of calm and a 'safe pair of hands.' He would give other potential contenders for the leadership time to prove themselves in bigger roles. This has been working well.

But Gordon Brown's election bungle has now changed the political landscape. 

The Lib Dems won't be facing the voters for another 18 months.  

The rules of the game have now changed and Ming Campbell needs to find and articulate a new vision of where and why he wants to lead the Lib Dems.