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Since its creation 27 years ago, Ottawa South has been a Liberal stronghold, held first by former cabinet minister John Manley and for the past four elections by incumbent David McGuinty, a member of one of Ottawa’s most powerful political families.
And while NDP candidate George Brown has mounted an impressive campaign, poll aggregators are not indicating a change in Ottawa South.
McGuinty argues that Liberal national resurgence being predicted is due to the values and positive tone of his party’s message – one that he says has resonated locally with the riding’s public servants, small business people and its Muslim population.
And for Arab speakers – the riding has the highest population of Arab speakers in Ontario – the niqab issue might have been a clincher.
“It was certainly disappointing to a lot of people here, and not just people who are Muslim Canadians,” said McGuinty. “Where did it come from and why did it dominate the headlines for a week? Again, it spoke to values.”
New Democrat Brown said it was as simple as ABC — Anybody But Conservative.
“From door to door, it was Mr. Harper’s got to go and which party will get the job done,” he said.
Brown specifically reached out to the Arab speaking community and said he found bemusement over the niqab having become an issue among a group of voters more interested in education and jobs than veils.
At the riding’s only all-candidates meeting, there was anger that the Conservative candidate was a no-show — and sent his regrets just one day ahead of the debate. Rookie challenger Dev Balkissoon was replaced on the stage by one of his lawn signs perched on an easel. Attendees were clearly not impressed by his absence. The Conservative ducked at least two chances to speak at organized media events in addition to not appearing at the all-candidates meeting, preferring, he said, to knock on doors.
Still, the Conservatives have always placed second in Ottawa South since its inception in 1988, and occasionally a close enough second to discourage any potential Liberal complacency.
This time around though, it was NDP candidate Brown who proved to be McGuinty’s most substantive challenger, with a sustained and impressive record both as a community volunteer and former regional and city councillor.
There was early optimism in the Brown camp that the NDP’s early momentum would build into an NDP Orange Wave that would wash over Ottawa South and carry their candidate into the House of Commons.
But going into Election Day, the tide appears to be turning in McGuinty’s favour.
Related
ccobb@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/chrisicobb
查看原文...
And while NDP candidate George Brown has mounted an impressive campaign, poll aggregators are not indicating a change in Ottawa South.
McGuinty argues that Liberal national resurgence being predicted is due to the values and positive tone of his party’s message – one that he says has resonated locally with the riding’s public servants, small business people and its Muslim population.
And for Arab speakers – the riding has the highest population of Arab speakers in Ontario – the niqab issue might have been a clincher.
“It was certainly disappointing to a lot of people here, and not just people who are Muslim Canadians,” said McGuinty. “Where did it come from and why did it dominate the headlines for a week? Again, it spoke to values.”
New Democrat Brown said it was as simple as ABC — Anybody But Conservative.
“From door to door, it was Mr. Harper’s got to go and which party will get the job done,” he said.
Brown specifically reached out to the Arab speaking community and said he found bemusement over the niqab having become an issue among a group of voters more interested in education and jobs than veils.
At the riding’s only all-candidates meeting, there was anger that the Conservative candidate was a no-show — and sent his regrets just one day ahead of the debate. Rookie challenger Dev Balkissoon was replaced on the stage by one of his lawn signs perched on an easel. Attendees were clearly not impressed by his absence. The Conservative ducked at least two chances to speak at organized media events in addition to not appearing at the all-candidates meeting, preferring, he said, to knock on doors.
Still, the Conservatives have always placed second in Ottawa South since its inception in 1988, and occasionally a close enough second to discourage any potential Liberal complacency.
This time around though, it was NDP candidate Brown who proved to be McGuinty’s most substantive challenger, with a sustained and impressive record both as a community volunteer and former regional and city councillor.
There was early optimism in the Brown camp that the NDP’s early momentum would build into an NDP Orange Wave that would wash over Ottawa South and carry their candidate into the House of Commons.
But going into Election Day, the tide appears to be turning in McGuinty’s favour.
Related
ccobb@ottawacitizen.com
twitter.com/chrisicobb
查看原文...
