Four weeks into the campaign and the best question for the Conservative leader has never been asked. Does Stephen Harper now regret launching his dreadful bid for re-election six weeks early?
Battered by Mike Duffy trial revelations, bruised by Canada’s sagging economy and blindsided by an NDP which refuses to pay the traditional role of deficit-generating socialist, Harper has crouched into the almost unfathomable poll position of underdog.
Knowing the alternative if he had held off the writ-drop makes it even more inexplicable.
He would’ve enjoyed a safe haven from the Nigel Wright fallout. He could’ve toured the country on a government jet handing out money. And he might’ve acted like a hands-on economic manager instead of a besieged candidate trying to explain why Canada is going off the rails while the U.S. economy stays on track.
Watching the campaign bus roll on, there’s a definite wobble in the wheels. Even small details are proving devilish in delivery.
Campaign literature on domestic policy features foreigners in photos. Harper seems strangely unprepared for the obvious, such as articulating dairy protectionist policy while touring a dairy farm.
As for the legendary Conservative attack ad machine, it has lost its zing with a repetitive rejigging of the ‘he’s not ready’ trashing of Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau while barely scratching NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.
Even the most basic planning - putting cheerleaders behind him for the daily encounter with media bloodhounds – has featured potted plant people looking bored while their alleged hero delivers the daily sermon.
And we haven’t even discussed his limp non-responses to being lord over a PMO where former and current senior staff conspired to cover up the big Duffy lie, going so far as to blend in with trial spectators to talk to a witness under oath.
Nick Koolsbergen, Harper’s director of issues management, is seen outside the Ottawa courthouse dressed in a hooded sweatshirt.
The Liberal and NDP campaigns have hit speedbumps, but given how they were caught by surprise by the early call, both have gone remarkably smoothly.
So back to the original question: Does Harper regret hitting the trail so early?
He should. After all, there’s only one way to describe his campaign performance to date: He's just not ready.
