Election Majority is Harper's to Lose
Regardless of media opinions as to who won the debates, there’s little indication that many minds have been changed.
Stephen Harper is still being accused of running an “election bubble campaign” in which he avoids unscripted encounters with reporters and the public. If so, it’s a tactic exploited by those who think they are going to win.
A lot of Tory candidates – especially those in safe ridings – seem to emulate the boss by avoiding all-candidate meetings and being “too busy” to grant interviews to enquiring reporters.
While it may be understandable that a candidate (or prime minister) with a comfortable lead is reluctant to risk having that lead eroded by making him/herself too available for public scrutiny, democracy hinges on the people making choices based on their knowledge and their impression of the candidates.
So the “bubble” approach to politics is offensive.
Of all democratic countries, Canada has weathered the recent recession best. One might think that the electorate would be insane not to return to power a party that has run the country competently.
An oddity of this general election is that both Harper and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff are poised on something of a precipice.
If the Tories don’t get a majority this time around, the leader has to assume it is he who is hurting the party. For Harper, winning a majority may be a necessity more than a wish.
Likeability (or lack of same) in the PM should be irrelevant. Stephen Harper may not be Mr. Fun-and-games, but he’s a good manager, is honest, has enhanced the prestige of Canada, and deserves a majority.
Will he get it? Dunno. But if he doesn’t, can he remain as PM?
As for Ignatieff, if his Liberals don’t form the government, he’ll be gone. Decency, if not desire, would demand that he quit. Personally, I suspect he forced this election that the country doesn’t need, in order to get out of politics gracefully. If Liberals lose, even by a narrow margin, he’ll do the right thing and resign.
Ignatieff is a decent man who is probably more conservative than many Conservatives. It must drive him bonkers to have to kiss babies.
Little has happened in the election campaign to excite citizens. Harper promises more of the same, with billions pledged to Newfoundland and Quebec, and tax cuts for families. Ignatieff promises to spend more on seniors, more for students, more on home care, a new bridge for Montreal, etc.
With both parties, one wonders where the money is going to come from (Ignatieff wants to increase corporation taxes). The NDP’s Jack Layton wants to double Canada Pensions and to bribe the people with their own money.
In other words, everything is pretty normal for a federal election campaign.
Unlike the last election, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions haven’t been an issue – possibly because the economy is more worrying. And Canadian soldiers turning Taliban prisoners over to Afghan authorities who may abuse them, hasn’t resonated. Nor is $16 million for F-35 fighter-jets much of an issue.
With the election two weeks away, a majority government seems not only within Harper’s grasp but, judging from polls after the leadership debates, virtually a sure thing.
Not quite a sure thing, but it’s his majority to lose.
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