Conservatives gain in early stages of Canadian election

Tim Montgomerie

Canada's voters have two choices at the general election scheduled for 2nd May...

1. The opposition Liberals, led by Michael Ignatieff, want voters to believe that it's a choice between continuing minority Conservative government - held in check by them and the other leftist opposition parties - and a majority Conservative government that would, among other dastardly things, enact a traditionalist social agenda.
2. The Conservatives want voters to believe that the real choice is between a majority Conservative and a minority Liberal government (which would be tugged leftwards by the tax'n'spend NDP and by the separatist Bloc Quebecois).

The latest polls (click on graphic above to enlarge it or here to see original) suggest that the Conservative position is strengthening a little but there's still a month of campaigning to go. What will encourage Mr Harper, however, is that his strongest issue - the economy - is increasing in resonance. He insists, meanwhile, that his priorities wouldn't change if he wins a majority and rejects Liberal Party claims that he would restrict abortion rights.

The two videos below give a taste of the campaign that the Canadian conservatives are running.