The election campaign?

[cowman]

So far Harper seems to be getting out there and setting the agenda? Martins contribution so far seems to be reacting to Harper And saying stupid things like "I love Canada"!
One thing about Jack Layton: he says it how he sees it, whether it is popular or not!
The media is still lying in wait for Harper but I believe he has handled them so far pretty well? When asked if he would seek private health care if his wife was faced with a long wait for surgery he responded very well in my opinion? He said yes I would just like everyone of you would! He put it right back at them! These questions the media are asking him are of the variety "When did you stop beating your wife?"! Andrew Coyne said that on the news the other night?
How come the media isn't all over Martin? He seems to be getting a pretty free ride right now? The media should be roasting the hell out of him? In the UK the papers would be all over him! Maybe we need to know who owns the media in this country to understand why he is being treated with kids gloves?

[FarmRanger]

Fair and unbiased election coverage?

I just found this the other day. Astounding.

Quote:
“Charles Bird is a lobbyist for Bell Globemedia (owner of The Globe and Mail and CTV) and is the Ontario campaign chairman for the federal Liberals. He told Ontario MPs the electorate is "very volatile" and warned that "it's going to be a very negative campaign."unquote
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20051124.ELECTSTRATEGY24/TPStory
http://www.bellglobemedia.ca/x/bios/detail/?cid=4744

He’s predicting a very negative campaign. A self fulfilling prophesy when you get to help plan the campaign. Remember, he’s the Ontario campaign chairman for the federal Liberals, and he’s a lobbyist for a major Canadian news supplier CTV, and the Globe and Mail. Nope, no conflict here. How did federal lobbying rules ever allow this?!

In the CBC, you now have the coveted Governor General job to work toward. Isn't the head of the CBC a Liberal appointee as well?

It should be no surprise at all that Martin has been getting a free ride. If this trend continues, we'll only be allowed our daily portion of spoonfed propaganda.

Harper has his work cut out for him cleaning up this mess, if he can manage running the Canadian media gauntlet to get to the PMs office.

[farmers_son]

I do not think the election campaign will get into high gear until after Christmas, early in the New Year. For most of us our information will come from the media as we will not likely get to see any of the leaders in person, certainly not all of them.

I think where we will see the media play a role in December is in reporting of the ordinary news. I am watching the situation with the hostage taking in Iraq, I am sure whatever the result is it will influence some voters. Jobless figures came out recently, people will remember that. If there was a major development with softwood lumber that would be important. In a way during a long election it is a bit of a crap shoot as day to day developments can have a greater impact on voters than a particular speech.

After New Years, then the campaign advertising will go into high gear.

[cowman]

I think you have read the situation very well FS. The real campaign will begin post holidays.
I suspect that is when it will get down and dirty? Hey it worked last time, why not again?
Until then I doubt you will see much of this "Harper is evil" sort of thing? After all he refuted two key issues? The gay marriage thing and the private health care deal?
Martin can't come out now and blast him on either one because in reality what did he say? On the gay marriage thing he said " A referendum on gay marriage...not gay unions! Give the gays all the rights hetro couples have, just don't call it marriage"! Now I suspect most Canadians would see that as a viable option? They did in Britain?
Private health care: Well how does Martin defend against this one? After all Quebec is way ahead of any other region in the country on this? And I believe the supreme court said it is okay? Much better to wait until the dying days before you get ugly with this one? A few quick sound bites to assure the gullible?
Now not to be to partisian, I suspect the heavy hitters will go lightly on Gomery until the last three weeks? Then they will come out swinging for a knockout punch?
It must be a very interesting job being a political strategist!