All week long I’ve been racking my brains trying to remember where I heard a Liberal strategist say that their election meme would be Do you really want a Harper majority?
Well, I found it this morning. It’s right at the end of the last segment of CTV’s Question Period this past Sunday. (Transcribed as best I could.)
Craig Oliver asks the political strategists:
"Before you go, very quickly, what is the ballot question, starting with the Conservatives here?"
Tim Powers: "Economy and leadership."
Steve MacKinnon: "Stephen Harper. Do you want him to have a majority government?"
Brad Lavigne:"It’s time,…"
Oliver (to McKinnon): "What, what’s that??? YOU want Stephen Harper to have a majority government?"
McKinnon: "No, to Canadians. Do you want to give Stephen Harper a majority government and continue on these policies, these wrong-headed, right-winged policies…"
Now contrast this with today’s Globe article – Fearing Harper could win a majority, rivals sound early alarm.
…And while Liberal strategists deem an overt plea to prevent a Tory majority a strategic mistake – because it would imply they don’t expect to win – some hinted the polls on the eve of this election campaign might at least shake up their voters.
“Canadians … will always have a thought in the back of their mind, which is, ‘Imagine if this were a majority Conservative government,’” said Montreal Liberal MP Denis Coderre.
The party’s national campaign co-chairman, Senator David Smith, said: “A lot of people will be thinking that to themselves. But I’m not saying it. ”
Oops. I guess someone let the cat out of the bag a bit early!
…Scott Reid, who was communications director to prime minister Paul Martin, said the polls will force reporters to ask questions about a Conservative majority, even if the Liberals don’t.
But he said voters remain skeptical of Mr. Harper, and the Liberals have to show he is cynical and manipulative. “He’s a hundred kinds of nasty, he’s a bully, and he’s not looking out for your interests,” Mr. Reid said.
“If we don’t persuade people first that they need to get rid of Stephen Harper, then we won’t get to the discussion about what kind of alternative we represent,” he said.
So, the strategy was apparently to let the left-wing press do their dirty work, but McKinnon let the cat out of the bag on Sunday.
So we weren’t just being paranoid after all.
And the Liberals obviously don’t expect to win.
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Update : Quite a good article by Don Martin – Dion should sell ideas, team, not cheap shots.
Liberals catch late flight from Air Inuit – Ottawa Sun.
