Del Duca lacks for much of a "look" and doesn't come across as sincere. They'll paint him as corrupt and the ultimate insider in an attempt to negate the weakness that Ford is no longer an outsider.
The Ford campaign's aim will be to create an extremely negative caricature of Del Duca in those terms and there's a lot to work with. If they succeed in doing so it will help to split the left vote through demoralization etc.
A critical mass of people like Ford and approve of his governance, including his pandemic choices. The Liberals and NDP are fighting for the same awkward and needy coalition. Finally: the Trudeau-Singh handshake deal is very advantageous for the Ford campaign.
Ford had a LOT of gaffes that should make "governing competency" the main theme of the campaign. The fact that the opposition hasn't gone there yet is surprising to me.
From wasted time and money fighting the carbon tax (and the stupid pump stickers that didn't stick) to the license plates that weren't visible at night (and nobody wanted a new plate design), to a pandemic response that swung from opening things up too quickly only to need to lock things down again (rinse and repeat), this has not been a terribly competent government. Add in a highway that few experts think we need (but which will make land owned by donors way more valuable) and this should be an easy "we'll be competent" campaign.
Boring could work here, but so far it looks like the campaigns are mostly a bunch of targeted promises without much thematic connection. Just convince me that you'll do slightly fewer stupid things and you'll probably get my vote! That bar ain't high in Ontario right now ...
Never mind platforms. The NDP and Liberals need to team up to get Ford out. That's Job #1. Both parties have to be willing to withdraw candidates where there is a chance for one of them to beat the Cons. That's all that matters right now. Ontario will be far better off with either Del Duca or Horvath leading, rather than Ford. It doesn't matter which.
I think Ford will win because he's neither a Liberal or NDP. Del Duca's hand gun ban makes even less sense than Wynne's Green Energy fiasco. It's ideological zealotry. Just as putting up wind turbines had a greater negative environmental impact than doing nothing, banning handguns will do absolutely nothing about gun crime. The NDP also are too ideological and not realistic about policy. There are no simple solutions to complex problems. So as bad as he is, Ford is still the least worst option out there.
Andrew, leaders are one thing, but who is running in ridings is another. From a quite conservative riding, whose current MPP is not running and is a a sad excuse IMHO (Hillier), we have both a PC candidate and the new Ontario Party running (I assume this is where Hillier votes will go), there is a chance to split the vote. This is the case in other such ridings. That said, the progressives are very active and mostly likely will split the rest too. Leaving us with. . . . Most likely another PC MPP.
I used to be an optimist. None of these 3 has a clue how to address the issues facing Ontario....kind of like Ottawa on a smaller scale. Leaders are needed, and the only really sharp one leads the Greens.
Good quick overview. How about the elephant in the room that the media seems to be ignoring: the New Blue Party? As of yesterday, they were only two short of a full slate of candidates and were being successful at pointing out the Conservatives' undressed status in a lot of areas.
Del Duca lacks for much of a "look" and doesn't come across as sincere. They'll paint him as corrupt and the ultimate insider in an attempt to negate the weakness that Ford is no longer an outsider.
The Ford campaign's aim will be to create an extremely negative caricature of Del Duca in those terms and there's a lot to work with. If they succeed in doing so it will help to split the left vote through demoralization etc.
A critical mass of people like Ford and approve of his governance, including his pandemic choices. The Liberals and NDP are fighting for the same awkward and needy coalition. Finally: the Trudeau-Singh handshake deal is very advantageous for the Ford campaign.
Ford had a LOT of gaffes that should make "governing competency" the main theme of the campaign. The fact that the opposition hasn't gone there yet is surprising to me.
From wasted time and money fighting the carbon tax (and the stupid pump stickers that didn't stick) to the license plates that weren't visible at night (and nobody wanted a new plate design), to a pandemic response that swung from opening things up too quickly only to need to lock things down again (rinse and repeat), this has not been a terribly competent government. Add in a highway that few experts think we need (but which will make land owned by donors way more valuable) and this should be an easy "we'll be competent" campaign.
Boring could work here, but so far it looks like the campaigns are mostly a bunch of targeted promises without much thematic connection. Just convince me that you'll do slightly fewer stupid things and you'll probably get my vote! That bar ain't high in Ontario right now ...
Never mind platforms. The NDP and Liberals need to team up to get Ford out. That's Job #1. Both parties have to be willing to withdraw candidates where there is a chance for one of them to beat the Cons. That's all that matters right now. Ontario will be far better off with either Del Duca or Horvath leading, rather than Ford. It doesn't matter which.
I think Ford will win because he's neither a Liberal or NDP. Del Duca's hand gun ban makes even less sense than Wynne's Green Energy fiasco. It's ideological zealotry. Just as putting up wind turbines had a greater negative environmental impact than doing nothing, banning handguns will do absolutely nothing about gun crime. The NDP also are too ideological and not realistic about policy. There are no simple solutions to complex problems. So as bad as he is, Ford is still the least worst option out there.
Hi, I'm on Team Red and worked for the Liberals for ages, I'm rooting for them to win, but I'm being objective. Honest!
Andrew, leaders are one thing, but who is running in ridings is another. From a quite conservative riding, whose current MPP is not running and is a a sad excuse IMHO (Hillier), we have both a PC candidate and the new Ontario Party running (I assume this is where Hillier votes will go), there is a chance to split the vote. This is the case in other such ridings. That said, the progressives are very active and mostly likely will split the rest too. Leaving us with. . . . Most likely another PC MPP.
I used to be an optimist. None of these 3 has a clue how to address the issues facing Ontario....kind of like Ottawa on a smaller scale. Leaders are needed, and the only really sharp one leads the Greens.
Good quick overview. How about the elephant in the room that the media seems to be ignoring: the New Blue Party? As of yesterday, they were only two short of a full slate of candidates and were being successful at pointing out the Conservatives' undressed status in a lot of areas.
I can see why this is a political piece. Ford can't be an outsider, Del Duca has to get known, and the NDP have no chance. Helpful!