but Stephen Harper.
Weird isn't it? I guess the "give Harper some rope and he will hang himself" campaign is over and now it is time to fear and smear and see what sticks. Yesterday Paul Martin tried to link Stephen Harper and Mike Harris.
...Martin also said that Harper has a string of former Harris cabinet ministers and backbenchers running for him who, if elected, would mire the country in a deficit like the former Ontario premier did in Ontario.
"They're obviously doing that because they share a view. I didn't agree with him in terms of what happened in terms of their social programs in Ontario and I didn't believe in cutting taxes and going into deficit, which is what happened," Martin said in an interview with CanWest News Service.
Paul Martin is trying to spin that we cannot afford the Conservative announcements. Considering our annual bursting surpluses and the continual sand-bagging of the numbers I am willing to bet there is room. At minimum I can't wait for the Conservatives costing numbers.
But there is certainly an element where Mr. Harper has been like Mike Harris and that is in the campaign. The policy-a-day announcements throughout the first half of the campaign and yesterday we had what you could call a "Contract with Canada" (o.k. I know that is a Gingrich thing but Harris took his queues from the US example).
Oh, should I mention that Paul Martin is not blameless for Ontario cuts?
Update: And here are some thoughts from John Ibbitson...you know, the guy who wrote the book on the Harris victory. Although Mike Harris is not mentioned (you can't expect perfect segues can you?)
...Stephen Harper still has to convince these most skeptical of electors that he is not the man they fear he is. But this much, at least, can be said in his favour: Thus far, he has done better than almost anyone expected of him.
