The Liberal Campaign So Far

For the most part, the Federal Liberal party campaign has been a long series of fumbles, misfires and general disorganization. Paul Martin has been running around acting like he's punch drunk, stumbling over words and sounding defensive.

Early in the campaign, we had a number of Liberal party candidates and members talking at what seemed to be cross purposes to Mr. Martin and the official line.

Then, just before Christmas, the RCMP announced that they were escalating their review of the events around the income trust policy release to a criminal investigation. I must admit, it's rather odd for the RCMP to "announce" that they are escalating what amounts to a political investigation. Very strange.

Policy announcements have been met with surprise by candidates at times, and there seems to be serious disconnects in the ability of the campaign teams to get their messages out - and consistent.

This week the policy book got leaked to Ezra Levant (wtf?) a day or so before its release; a book on some obscure lobby group called "Option Canada" came out and the party utterly fumbled the roll out of a new set of ads.

This is not the Liberal Party that has run successful elections in the past. There have been rumours of a 'mole' working in the campaign war room, but I think that's a little too 'cloak and dagger'.

Looking at it, I suspect we are actually witnessing the fallout of the long internal battle between Martin and Chretien supporters. After the less than conclusive election in 2004, I suspect that Chretien's supporters declared amongst themselves that Martin didn't have the backing of the public either, and therefore should be removed. In other words, within the party, people are tussling over the carcass, and looking at each other as adversaries - instead of looking outward at their foes.

Oddly enough, in Calgary here, although the campaign is a bit tepid (with all of the CPC candidates acting as if they are shoo-ins), the Liberal party seems to be starting to attract some good quality people for their campaigns. (Mind you, it's always mystified me that Calgary West keeps electing Rob Anders...)