Even though NDP leader Jack Layton has been campaigning right across the country on the slogan of "Harper is the wrong kind of strong", you would be surprised at how much the two men have in common. No, not on policy (as they are diametrically opposed on pretty much every issue), but their strategic style. They are both incrementalist. Harper, it would seem, governs that way. And in much the same fashion, Layton has been closing the gap on the trail and is now within striking distance of overtaking his primary opponent, the Liberals.Let Ekos Research President Frank Graves explain this change:
“This change has been taking place in small increments, day after day since the prospect of an election loomed at the end of August,” said EKOS President Frank Graves. “The Liberals have gradually slipped from the high 20s into the low 20s. The New Democrats, meanwhile, have been edging up.”
The gap between the Liberals and the New Democrats in this latest poll is just four percentage points. Although it is clear that the Liberals retain a small edge, on some days the difference is within the margin of error.
I guess it wasn't bad strategy after all to turn their attention to Layton and the NDP.
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I have reincarnated this old blog and will be following both the national as well as the local developments in the New Brunswick region leading up to the 2011 federal election.
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2 comments:
Since the NDP has no chance at all of winning the election, they can make any promise they want, no matter how unrealistic. The fact is, they could never implement their promises because they'd have to raise taxes a lot, which is very imprudent during a recession
I'm not sure if I agree with that statement anon since an election win for the NDP is beating the Liberals (in seats), which right now, look very plausible.
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