Gretzky backs Harper, but can’t vote for him
When an American professor wanted to study the impact of celebrity endorsements on political views a decade ago, he used a statement by Wayne Gretzky to gauge the fame effect.
The hockey legend’s comment was controversial — calling George W. Bush a great president whose invasion of Iraq was justified — but his brand made it clearly more palatable to research participants, the study concluded.
Friday, that potent influence moved from the academic to the real world, as Gretzky endorsed Stephen Harper in the midst of an election that’s too close to call.
At a campaign rally in downtown Toronto, local Conservative candidates arrayed in rows behind them, Harper and Gretzky sat on easy chairs and talked hockey, the prime minister playing the role of interviewer. Finally, he raised the election and asked for some “advice” on leadership.
“I think you’ve been an unreal prime minister, you’ve been wonderful to all the country,” Gretzky replied, as the audience of party faithful rose in a standing ovation.
“I wish you nothing but the most success … and best of luck to the country, the greatest country in the world.”
A few moments later, the NHL god was gone, unavailable to expand on his political preferences.
For Harper, there was only one catch. Gretzky, who hasn’t lived in Canada since 1988, cannot vote for him, thanks to residency rules for offshore citizens the Conservative government fought hard to uphold.
Harper was unapologetic earlier about the law barring Canadians who have lived abroad for more than five years from voting, validated recently by an Ontario judge. It effectively disenfranchised about 1.4 million Canadians, sparking anger among many of them.
“Obviously, we’re going to make sure that we have, I think, fair rules to make sure Canadian elections are decided by Canadian residents,” Harper said during a campaign event in Calgary.
“I’ve never heard Mr. Gretzky challenge that particular notion.”
Gretzky has not lived in Canada since being traded to Los Angeles from Edmonton in 1988. He took U.S. citizenship after marrying American Janet Jones although he remains a Canadian.
Yet his lack of electoral standing here may not matter much.
David Jackson, the political scientist at Bowling Green State University, who conducted the 2005 study, said his and other research suggests endorsements by such luminaries do actually work — and this one seems to have all the right ingredients.
“We obviously have someone who is completely well known … and his likability is certainly very high,” Jackson said.
“A celebrity like Wayne certainly has the ability to move the needle, and in a close election that could matter.”