Stories by Gerry Nicholls
Political ‘hired guns’ like to keep policies simple
This is why election campaigns are the way they are, i.e., often devoid of any 'important' policy debates. For political strategists, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature.
A good fundraising letter starts off with an emotional bang, basically hooking the donor’s interest, compelling him or her to keep reading the letter to the very end.
Instead of expending time and effort trying to broaden their tent, the Conservatives should focus on shrinking the Liberal tent. In short, Erin O’Toole must give voters a reason to reject the Liberals.
And like it or not, populism isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
Why, during a time of high economic anxiety, are political parties raking in so much cash? It doesn’t seem rational, does it? There are two explanations, one is mundane, the other’s a little more extraordinary.
Even though Justin Trudeau's actions toward China might seem bumbling, he will likely escape all this diplomatic controversy more or less intact. 
It all goes to show that sometimes there can be an uneasy relationship between conservative ideologues and conservative politicians. They may share the same enemies, but not always the same aims.
Just like last election, they don’t want to scare voters, just like last election they might end up boring them.Author
So, Justin Trudeau’s getting vaccines for Canadians wherever he can get them, even if that means appearing less than charitable and even if that means looking less than postnationalist.
Whenever you hear a 'third-party' advocacy group grandly and dramatically claim it’s launching a media campaign to either elect or defeat a particular political party or candidate, take it with a grain of salt. 
So yeah, it’s possible populism will run rampant this year, which really shouldn’t surprise anyone. There’s just no way to immunize the population against its emotional appeal.
Erin O’Toole will soon find out that the ideological centre he seeks to inhabit might be nothing more than a political mirage. 
Unexpected and dramatic events often occur during elections and they can quickly reset the odds. So even though Trudeau is looking good right now, if he calls an election, he’d still be rolling the dice. 
If Justin Trudeau is going to win the next election, (which some speculate could come as soon as this spring) he’ll have to inject his leadership persona with more toughness. 
Erin O’Toole’s challenge will be to come up with a new conservative plan, one that fits the needs of 21st century Canada. 
Given the sad state of 2020 I think at this point we need to grasp whatever opportunity we can to inject a little festive joy into our lives. 
If UNDRIP legislation can empower Indigenous peoples to be partners and owners in resource development, everyone will gain.
If the economy goes into a tailspin, will Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh follow Erin O’Toole’s lead? 
Organizations that promote causes, political or otherwise, play an important role in our community. You might say, trying to make our society better is their business. 
Be wary of public opinion polls; all sorts of variables can cloud their meaning. In short, skepticism is warranted. 
A carbon tax is not necessarily a bad idea, but for a conservative politician, supporting it is bad politics. Simply put, to keep his base happy, Erin O’Toole can’t be seen as pro-tax. 
A common enemy might unite us, but only temporarily. Plus, there’s another factor to consider: it’s even more difficult to keep a society united against a common enemy, when that common enemy seems to be unbeatable. 
For the NDP to be successful, the Conservatives must have a leader who doesn’t overly spook progressives. 
Erin O’Toole’s main job as leader will be to figure out how he can win over new supporters to his cause without alienating elements of his already existing base. 
Too often politicians get so caught up in their personal echo chambers that they sometimes come to believe that if something is popular within their own socio-economic class it will also be popular across the board. 
There’s an old axiom in politics, 'if you’re denying your dying.' In other words, using negative language when defending yourself is rarely persuasive. 
My sense is, it’s going to be a tight race. So, get ready to batten the hatches, things south of the border will likely get mighty interesting. 
With a federal election possibly in the offing, I guarantee you the Liberals, Conservatives, and New Democrats are all polling the electorate like crazy right now.
It’s plausible that an election is near and that plausibility is all political fundraisers need to inject their pitches with a sense of urgency. And believe me, urgency is a key part of any fundraising message. 
Erin O'Toole's military background will lead voters to draw positive conclusions about his leadership chops.
Erin O'Toole has to prove he can unify conservative factions and lead pragmatically if he wants to move the Conservative Party past the ghost of Stephen Harper. 
Government polling can serve a real purpose for the electorate, not just the politicians at the helm.Politics This Morning
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