My dead tree copy of Maclean's was dropped off in the mail box a few minutes ago and lo and behold, there's NDP leader Jack Layton on the cover. And he's not smiling.
I haven't read the story yet -- it's raining here and the magazine needs to dry out before I tackle it. If you like, you can read the online version here. But on the theory that any publicity is good publicity I think this points to one way in which this campaign differs from the last one: the NDP have a profile they haven't had in recent years. I don't think anyone expects them to be forming a government when the dust settles on Jan. 23rd but they're in the thick of things in a way that wasn't the case the last time around. And we've all been recently reminded that in a minority government situation, a third party can actually influence policy.
It might at least make the campaign -- and even the leaders' debates -- more interesting. I think Layton has more to gain and less to lose than either Martin or Harper. If the NDP doesn't meet expectations in this election I don't think it particularly weakens his position unless he, himself, manages to score high on the Gaffe-o-meter. I'm not sure the same can be said for the Liberal and Conservative leaders.
We've been told to expect a dirty campaign and that'll give Layton the opportunity to continue to position himself as the national leader who's above all that, who wants government to work. It'll be interesting to see how he plays it.
pogge,
I'll be curious to see what a "dirty" Canadian campaign looks like. You folks really ARE nicer than we are.
I'm beginning to wonder whether the wild card in this election won't be just how fast people might have turned against the Liberals. There are little signs of that happening, and if it is happening, how should Jack deal with that? He is doing well so far, especially on the any-attention front, as you say, but that has been by default. If the Liberals really are in trouble, he will have to pay a different kind of attention, methinks.
I will read the Maclean's story when my screen dries out, pogge, but mainly my position re Maclean's is that I'm sulking. I'm a member of those hordes who once worked at Maclean's -- actually worked there -- who never got invited to the party (heavily attended by people who never worked there).
Jack really needs to refine his message and its delivery. Getting a picture taken without his perpetual grin is a good start, but more obviously has to be done.
I was watching CPAC during the last election, about an hour after one of his less-than-inspirational soliloquays, where there was some arcane point of legislation in committee. The Conservative on the panel would make some statements, ask some questions, the Liberal would respond... all very calm, all very genteel.
Then the NDP rep (I believe it was Wendy Lill) got her chance and launched into a tirade of invective that was embarassing to watch; it was as if all the banshees on the highlands were released in this one room. She was literally maxxing out the pre-amp on her microphone.
Now, this is just one anecdote, and I don't want to imply that the way the NDP handles political situations is uniformly shrill, but this spoke volumes to me. It said "The NDP isn't ready to make a government if this is the way they handle themselves."
That said, I'd vote the NDP a million times before I'd cast a single vote for Stephen "Evil Ken Doll" Harper.