Trudeau tops Twitter stats, Google searches during Munk debate

While Stephen Harper, Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau jousted over Canadian foreign policy issuesin Toronto, the Internetfollowedthe Munk debate via Google and Twitter, weighing-in and responding in real-time.

While the federal election is still weeks away, there was a clearwinner in online searches based on statistics fromGoogle and Twitter Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

• Munk leaders' debate: Harper, Trudeau battle over bill to revoke citizenship
• 6 key moments of the Munk leaders' debate on foreign policy
• RECAP:Refugees, Keystone, security play prominently in Munk debate
• Trudeau slams Mulcair and Harper for attacks on father's record

Trudeau's Twitter handle was by far the most mentioned during the debate.

Cam Gordon, a communications spokesman for Twitter Canada, told CBC News in a written statement that Trudeau'sTwitter handle was mentioned8,934 times over the course of the debate.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and NDP Leader TomMulcair'sTwitter handles were mentioned far fewer times, at2,544 and2,182 mentions respectively.Though she was not invited to the debate, Green Party LeaderElizabeth May's Twitter handle was mentioned1,144 times.

For comparison, Trudeau's handle was also the most mentionedduring the Globe and Mail's leaders' debate (8,126 times), whenMulcair's account was mentioned5,562 times and Harper's profile received5,394 mentions.May had the most mentions that night,with14,161, even though shewas also notinvited to the Globe's debate.

During Monday's debate,Trudeauwas the most searched leader on Google, justbarely edgingout Harper.Both leaders easily eclipsed Mulcair, by a 3 to 1 ratio, according to Google Canada.

Two of the three main leaders' Twitter accounts remained active throughoutthe debate, with Mulcair and Trudeau tweeting out short debate video clips, pictures and memorable zingers. Trudeau's account tweeted the most(83 times), while Mulcair's account tweeted 52 times.

NeitherHarper's personal account nor theConservative party account tweeted during the debate.

Trudeau also had the most re-tweeted post of the night, with a photo and quoteabout helping Syrian refugees. It was sent from his account22 minutes into the proceedings. The photowas re-tweeted more than 360 times as of 11 p.m.ET.

Topics during the debateranged from Syria and citizenship to maternalhealth and anti-terror BillC-51.Twitter users were searching theseissues and policies as they were being discussed.

The most mentioned issue on Twitter was Canada-U.S. relations. That isno surprise given that the topictook up a sizeable chunk of the debate, with the leaders sparring over the Keystone pipeline and Harper's relationship with U.S. president Barack Obama.

The next most-discussed topics on Twitter wereclimate change,the Syrian refugee crisis and international trade. Russian PresidentVladimir Putin, ISIS and Syrian President Basharal-Assad also made the top 10.

Twitter Canada's Steve Ladurantaye tweeted out the full most discussed list, which also included some colourful honourable mentions, like Trudeau's"big sled, no dogs" zing to Harper and the accents of the debate translators.

Twitter users also searched forPierre Trudeau, who was brought up in the debate by his son. Monday marked the 15th anniversary of his death.