The interesting point I've found regarding elections, especially smaller, more local ones, is that the media chooses the contenders. If you look at SU elections at the U of C, you'll notice that the Gauntlet (the school paper) pretty much determines who is getting elected and who isn't. There is just no other way for a candidate to really get his or her name into consideration than to have reporters decide to cover what he or she talks about.
This election for me will be the election where, because I've followed it, I'll be able to see how well this idea works. In Nenshi's case, it'll really be interesting to see how well he does when none of the media want to talk about him. In Wayne Stewart's case, it'll be interesting to see how well he does, because he has a lot of signs, yet no media coverage at all - he isn't considered to be a "contender" by the paper, ipso facto he isn't. You can call it the Alnoor Kassam effect - except that everyone in their right mind wouldn't compare the two in any other meaningful way.
Seems to me if you want to win, the best way to do that is to get friendly with a reporter or two, over and above pretty much any other method. Second best method is to be bold and controversial. Nenshi's talk about the police budget was his only way of getting any votes.
I would venture to suggest that Jiri is mistaken on one point - the people who now dismiss Nenshi because he would question the police budget would never have voted for him anyways. It can't cost you votes if you would never would have gotten them anyway.
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