It’s the long weekend here in Canada, and as most people traditionally take this time to travel a bit, catch their breath and catch up with family, gardening and regular things, Ottawa is nervous, and could decide to hold off an election call tomorrow.

The Liberals are looking at polling numbers this weekend as the final decision whether or not to call an election (they need 36 days) will be made.
Meantime as parties are in full election mode, I think Canadians understand this is not an election about personality. We vote for 301 MP’s.
The Liberals are trying to make this election about personality as an exchange on CBC Newsworld indicates.

Now, elections are about choices. Sometimes — often — those choices are expressed in tough, critical terms. That’s fair. But is it in any way fair, or right, to link a Canadian politician to the National Alliance? The answer is so obvious it barely merits saying. Mr. Robinson’s statement was odious.

Unfortunately, with the fortunes of the party led by Paul Martin slipping dramatically, we should all probably steel ourselves for more of the same. After all, the desire for “change” is always a powerful force, politically. But rarely has it been as powerful as it is in election year 2004.

For months, Mr. Martin’s party has been struggling with polling numbers that show 60% of voters want a change in government. That is precisely the number that swept Dalton McGuinty to power in Ontario with a massive majority. The new Conservatives represent change, for sure. But are they a too-radical change?

It is that perception that sank the political fortunes of Preston Manning and Stockwell Day — the perception that they were too extreme for the Canadian voting mainstream. Thus, the predominant issue of this campaign won’t be an issue, per se — it will be a person: Stephen Harper. It is going to be a referendum on a man.

Having proudly toiled in Liberal war rooms going back to 1993, I played a small role in the Liberal campaign efforts to define Kim Campbell, Preston Manning and Stockwell Day — and to define them as unfit for the keys to 24 Sussex Drive.

And, as someone who has closely observed Stephen Harper since 1997, I can say that it will be very difficult — if not impossible — to do to the Conservative party leader what we did to Kim Campbell, Preston Manning and Stockwell Day. Compared to his predecessors, Mr. Harper is smart, strategic and moderate.

In politics, the main task is always define or be defined. If you haven’t defined your opponent long before the start of an election campaign, you have waited far too long.

If you attempt to define him as in some way associated with the vilest neo-Nazi group on the planet, meanwhile, you have gone too far. And you should apologize.

Harper released his campaign spending list. Martin hasn’t. No candidate is required to do so before the end of the year. Martin has spent about 12 million so far, Harper around 2 million before the spending caps go into place.
Liberals asked that push polling and negative advertising be dropped.
It wasn’t. They just aren’t picking up on the disgrundled, tired and angry mood in the country. They need to. While they sweat out the decision, we intend to enjoy our weekend.