Stockwell Day is visiting Nelson today and that can only mean one thing — the Conservatives expect little to change in the Southern Interior riding on May 2.
If this was July 2000 and the new leader of the Canadian Alliance came roaring up on Lakeside Park beach on his Jet Ski then the political right might have something to cheer about. But this is 2011 and Stockwell Day is no longer able to amp up a crowd. His presence in Nelson and Castlegar today is unlikely to be a tipping point for Southern Interior Conservative candidate Stephen Hill.
In war rooms across the country, party strategists are scrambling to find ridings where there’s a real chance for change and upset. They sniff out opportunities and they pounce.
On Monday, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was in the Lower Mainland picking out some treats at Savary Island Pie Company in West Vancouver. In between bites he was trying to shore up support in a couple of key ridings where the Liberals hope to snatch a seat from the NDP and Tories. Those ridings are real close so they bring in the big dog.
It’s been a while since a federal leader has come to the Nelson area to bolster a candidate’s chances during an election campaign. In 2006 Stephen Harper was scheduled to touch down in Castlegar to help spread some love to Tory candidate Derek Zeisman. The flight couldn’t get in and considering how that whole debacle turned out, it was probably for the best.
Stockwell Day is not seeking re-election in the Okanagan-Coquihalla riding. He has had an impressive and memorable political career. He was an integral part of the resurgence of the right in Ottawa. He should be thanked for his service to Canada.
Will Mr. Day create enough buzz to capture a windfall of undecided voters? Probably not. If the Tories were real serious about Hill winning they would have brought in the star of the show.
Stephen Harper is scheduled to be in Ontario today fighting battles he is sure he can win.
—Nelson Star