Paul Well's (long) election article in the Feb 6 issue of Maclean's can be found on Google cache here:

THE UNTOLD STORY: INSIDE AN EPIC BATTLE

After reading it I was left with the strong impression that Stephen Harper might just be a very capable prime minister. He seems the antithesis of that last guy (Paul something er other..).

quote:

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David Emerson should resign from the House of Commons and run in a by-election. He had two months to decide he was a Conservative and mention this fact to his electors. He forgot. Stephen Harper's excuses are transparently absurd. "It's not about Liberal or Conservative"? Uh. He ran a Conservative against Emerson.

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quote:

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... it's well worth picking up a copy of the paper edition of the current Maclean's — and I honestly can't remember the last time that I said that — to read Wells' epic article on the election campaign.

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It rightly praises the Cons for a well run, strategic campaign. It also recognizes that they got some lucky breaks (from the RCMP and Liberals, no less), but only a good campaign can take full advantage of lucky breaks.

The Liberals ran a very national, broad campaign, tying to equate themselves with the very idea of Canada. The Tories, says Wells, targeted some very specific demographics and spoke directly and exclusively to them.

Yes, Republicans use a similar methodology. So did Mike Harris. They use it because it works.

While the NDP did well in this election, let's face it: it's not the breakthrough we need.

I can't help but wonder if we too can be a bit more strategic in defining our voter universe. We would have to appeal directly to a target demographic and not worry about pissing off groups outside that demographic.

I'm no Martin fan, but I found the piece to be both enjoyable AND very pro-Harper.