Bownesian, my partner was on NN's executive team and if you don't think the "progressive" aspect of NN's campaign and campaigning didn't help explain his election you are seriously deluded. Yes, he got conservative support but he also represented and played up a very progressive set of policies- transit, Plan-It, campaigning at the Bow River Flow and Folk Fest and Gay Pride, being resolutely in favour of density and *shudder* mixed-income neighbourhoods. His support was highest- through the roof- in Wards 7 and 8.
If cons want to make themselves feel better by insisting, as they are falling over themselves to do, that NN was a conservative candidate, have at it, but you're completely, utterly mistaken. He never could have accomplished what he did without mobilizing young, previously jaded progressive and indeed LIBERAL voters who never felt enfranchised before because they never felt as if they could elect a candidate they liked. This time they did.
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