October Federal Election Discussion / Poll

[gryphon]

I'm not in Toronto so I don't know, do they Fords still have some clout with the electorate there? I hear a lot of seats are in play in the GTA right now.

They do have clout, especially in the suburban parts

[Patty Smyth]

Just talked to a friend who works for the NDP

they have new attack ads almost ready to go with regards to this lobbying scandal.

The Tories most definitely have some also.

It's too late.

[gryphon]

It's too late.

Look at Alberta in 2012

Things can change in one weekend

They have in the past

[DaveP]

It's too late.

I think you're probably right Patty. If this had come out earlier the NDP would have had some to time to make some hay about 'Liberal backdoor dealings with the evil oil companies', but we may be too close to voting day now for them to take much advantage.

[Patty Smyth]

I think you're probably right Patty. If this had come out earlier the NDP would have had some to time to make some hay about 'Liberal backdoor dealings with the evil oil companies', but we may be too close to voting day now for them to take much advantage.

I think Harper's plan with the extended election campaign backfired. He wanted people to get maximum exposure of Trudeau hoping that he would crumble and put his foot in his mouth but I think the public are a little smarter than he took us for. If we had the regular 35 day campaign we would probably be looking at an NDP minority or perhaps majority. So really it backfired on 2 levels.

[Patty Smyth]

I think you're probably right Patty. If this had come out earlier the NDP would have had some to time to make some hay about 'Liberal backdoor dealings with the evil oil companies', but we may be too close to voting day now for them to take much advantage.

Also if you are dragging out the Ford brothers, you are desperate. The adds will be so nasty in the next week. Should be amusing on all fronts.

[DaveP]

I think Harper's plan with the extended election campaign backfired. He wanted people to get maximum exposure of Trudeau hoping that he would crumble and put his foot in his mouth but I think the public are a little smarter than he took us for. If we had the regular 35 day campaign we would probably be looking at an NDP minority or perhaps majority. So really it backfired on 2 levels.

Yeah. I mostly agree but I don't think Harper underestimated the public, he underestimated Trudeau. I admit, I did too. I still don't think he'll be a great PM but he has shown himself to be better in this campaign than most thought he would be. After this election I expect Harper (and me) will be like Brazeau in that boxing match - picking ourselves up off the floor and wondering wtf just happened.

[thriftygranny]

Trudeau has pleasantly surprised me, I think he has run a great campaign. Harper has disappointed me hugely, now for me is it vote for the party or the person and I think a lot people are on the fence as well. It isn't too late to lose my vote Harper.

[thriftygranny]

I think Harper's plan with the extended election campaign backfired. He wanted people to get maximum exposure of Trudeau hoping that he would crumble and put his foot in his mouth but I think the public are a little smarter than he took us for. If we had the regular 35 day campaign we would probably be looking at an NDP minority or perhaps majority. So really it backfired on 2 levels.

Wise words.

[lecale]

.

[beachdown]

Playing devil's advocate. The two families are "friends", and the Fords rule the Etobicoke ridings anyway

Also if you are dragging out the Ford brothers, you are desperate. The adds will be so nasty in the next week. Should be amusing on all fronts.

[DaveP]

The Harper government has offered Trudeau and Mulcair a chance to preview the TPP on the Friday before the election. That would leave 2 campaign days to go over the limited information and communicate what the party thinks it means to Canadians. Harper had promised to release the information before the election, and he's left it to the absolute last moment.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cana...-pco-1.3273342

I don't blame the TPP timing on Harper, I don't think that's his doing. It's a 13 (?) nation agreement that has just been concluded and the final wording is being written up by the lawyers and bean counters from those 13 countries. The timing of this wasn't set by the government of Canada, we're one of the small players. I understand the timing was set by the US and Japan, the two biggies. I rather think Harper would have preferred it be concluded before the campaign began so he could fully trumpet what he feels are the positives of the agreement, or after the election so he could say now what he was fighting for. This timing is awkward, and not beneficial to the Conservatives, so there's no reason for him to have timed it this way. Canada is just the beaver sleeping next to the elephant again. And the elephant rolled over.

[FallenPixels]

The Fords may not be as popular as they were, and I think the majority prefer the tamer quieter and less embarrassing Toronto under Tory. But for people with a more conservative view, they still do have clout in the Toronto area (and even out here, people wish our mayor "at least gave a damn like Ford did" because he doesn't like to rock the boat and this is NDP land.

As far as TPP - I doubt Canada had much say in the timing, it has been a long term deal and I would imagine that Harper would have preferred not to annoy some of their farming base with it this close to the election and needed people present at the talks during the election run up when they could be at campaign stops.

[FallenPixels]

I think Harper's plan with the extended election campaign backfired. He wanted people to get maximum exposure of Trudeau hoping that he would crumble and put his foot in his mouth but I think the public are a little smarter than he took us for. If we had the regular 35 day campaign we would probably be looking at an NDP minority or perhaps majority. So really it backfired on 2 levels.

I think for the Conservatives, many of whom did not think they would win, a Liberal government is a safer choice than an NDP one for not undoing all of their policies

[lecale]

.