STEPHEN HARPER: Avoid mistakes and urge caution
Before politics: Low-level employee at Imperial Oil and economics student at the University of Calgary. In politics most of his life, with a few years at the National Citizens Coalition.
First political impressions: Disillusionment. Just out of university, was a top policy adviser to Progressive Conservative MP Jim Hawkes. He was brilliant in the role, but the machinations of Ottawa deeply troubled the idealistic, Ayn Rand-reading Albertan. Next political job was with the Reform party (slogan: “So you don’t trust politicians. Neither do we.”).
Evolution of brand: When first anointed Opposition leader, Harper would have denounced budget deficits, condemned corporate welfare and wouldn’t have been too fond of the monarchy. Has adopted the Jean Chretien style of simply giving Canadians small doses of empirically popular things.
On the gaffe scale (1 to 5), and biggest gaffe: 1. Being super-reserved and rarely taking questions means Harper has remarkably few opportunities to look stupid. Went to the Calgary Stampede and wore a cowboy hat backwards. Went to a Winnipeg Jets game and wore a Team Canada jersey instead of a Jets jersey.
Thing Canadians would most want to share with him: Probably some kind of complaint. Christian fundamentalists resent him for not outlawing abortion. Statisticians are mad that his government killed the long-form census. Economists aren’t happy about all the spending.
Flagship policy: Staying in power, essentially. Stephen Harper’s basic pitch is that Canada works better when he’s in charge.
Achilles heel: Probably the least charismatic political leader in modern Canadian history. Terrible in crowds, seems uncomfortable at public events and his ever-present poker face means nobody really knows what’s buzzing around in his head.
Poll position: Roughly tied with the NDP and the Liberals.
Winning strategy: Don’t do anything rash, and make the other guy look bad. Harper is very skilled at avoiding surprises on the campaign trail, and he’s also pretty good at trashing opponents.