Yesterday, Ontarians watched the third and final debate. It was the best of the three encounters. Martin Regg Cohn's observations are pretty accurate:
First, despite the attempts by both the Tories and Liberals to paint the NDP as dangerously radical, Horwath held her own. She not only gave no ground, she gave up precious little air time to Ford and Wynne any time they attacked — interrupting, denying or making her point by laughing out loud.
Second, Ford often looked and sounded ill at ease at times. He seemed short of breath during his opening statement, reverted to frozen smiles under attack, and lapsed into verbal clumsiness at times. But for all the anticipation that he would implode on live TV, he committed no blunders and never lost his cool despite coming under attack from both sides.
Third, Wynne made no breakthroughs in a debate where she needed a miracle to recover lost ground. She had an easier time of it, as the other two leaders went at each other. But she may have made some progress in re-introducing herself to voters who have given up on her these last few years.
Frankly, I thought that Wynne did a pretty good job of defending her record. I suspect that -- in ten years -- that record will look pretty good. But it's clear that her time has passed and the real battle is between Horvath and Ford.
Horvath was not intimidated by Ford, who was simply over the top:
Ford kept proclaiming “My friends” with evangelistic ardour as he looked into the camera and promised “a new day will dawn” when “the people” have their say. And, he warned, “God forbid the NDP takes power,” for the province will “be 10 times worse under the NDP” — a phrase he repeated perhaps 10 times.
Ford is -- politically, at least -- a simpleton who is out of his depth. But, if the present seat projections are correct, he could win a majority by a couple of seats. Which puts Mike Shriner, the leader of the Green Party of Ontario, into the mix. He was not on the stage last night. But he seems to be polling pretty well in Guelph, where he is running. If the count is close, Shriner could be the queen maker.
Stay tuned.
Image: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
12 comments:
Unfortunately a large portion of the electorate seems to believe the simpletons ramblings, Owen. How anyone could believe that Ford is leadership material after listening to him repeat his impossible promises and BS last night 1s beyond me.
"Ford is -- politically, at least -- a simpleton who is out of his depth. " My sentiments exactly, Owen.
Ford's a con man, Rural. And lots of people can be easily conned.
Ford strikes me as a man who swims in a very shallow pool, Lorne. The family business and the government of Ontario are false equivalents. His success in a business he inherited and managing the government don't match.
It looks like the king/queen makers need to think coalition.
Owen, I think all my friends in Ontario would do well to throw an extra case of beer in the garage fridge. You're going to need it when this is over. Even way out here I'm finding this painful to watch.
If Ford continues to lose support, Toby, a coalition is possible. The problem is that PC votes are notoriously efficient. Ford Nation gets more bang out of a vote than the Dippers do.
My wife and I have gotten to the point that we cringe as Ford simply repeats his talking points, Mound. There is no joy in Mudville.
Oh, gosh, Owen! I feel so sorry for Ontario right now. Living on the other side of our country, I have known Ontario to be the economic engine of Canada. That is, until the Free Trade Agreement came to town. Still, Ontario has a huge population, and given that, still is extremly important to our so-called economic engine. I certainly don't think or believe that Kinder Morgan will ever be a panacea, but rather another debit laid upon Canadian taxpayers. That any thinking Ontarian can consider a Ford to be the answer to their financial woes is mind boggling. Perhaps the best I can hope for you is that the Libs (I still consider Kathleen a pretty good brain) and Andrea could put together a good government - they're not that far apart). But Doug the Slug? Omigod! Ontario voters cannot possibly be that dumb!!!
Ford appeals to our darker angels, Lulymay. And, right now, those angels appear to be holding sway.
That "My friends" salutation was a contribution from the brain trust he inherited from Mr. Here-For-Canada. I guess they didn't conduct the focus groups that could have told them how well it worked the last time it was trotted out ad infinitum.
Ford's vocabulary is well worn, John. One wonders if he's ever had an original idea in his whole life.
Post a Comment