The twists and turns of the coming election have already begun. By the looks of it, we are in for a nasty campaign.
Earlier this spring as the Conservative machine warmed up, the Tax Man theme was developed, featuring Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty and the litany of tax increases he has imposed on working Ontarians. The result – a boost in Conservative leader Tim Hudak’s polling with voters.
By summer, when Hudak took some time off because his daughter was taken to Sunnybrook Hospital, the Liberals ramped up their attack ads. Drudging up images of former leader Mike Harris and using third party ads to discredit some of Hudak’s proposals, they managed to level off Hudak’s support and increased McGuinty’s total in a recent poll.
According to the latest poll and Newspaper coverage, the Conservatives and Liberals are in a statistical tie. Oh boy.
Then, if we look at Andrea Horwath, of the NDP, she has slipped in the polls. Oddly, Horwath made a point some weeks ago of saying her election campaign would not involve negative attack ads, preferring to focus on the strong points of her party and where it wants to take Ontario.
That mentality is certainly welcome News and gels with survey results that people don’t really like attack ads. Most people say they feel uncomfortable. Really?
The simple truth is attack ads work. The dirtier and slimier they get, the more voters gravitate to “any candidate but” the politicians getting their ox gored. The only time we have seen a backlash against attack ads in our lifetime came when the Conservatives made fun of former Prime Minister Chretien’s facial features and disability.
The future, of course, with these types of ads is an American style of politics where it isn’t what you would do, but rather what you did or could do, that becomes the focus. What a kingdom over which to preside; where division, rancour and vote getting trumps a sense of fair play and, in many cases, reality.
And to believe for a moment that type of conduct is a provincial or federal phenomena is pretty naive. It has taken place in local politics too, many times and in many places.
Perhaps the politicians know us better than we know ourselves. It’s far easier to ride the wave than truly understand the issues and personalities on which we vote.
