Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathji
It is pretty obvious that the reason the WRP lost the last election was they way they embraced extremist elements who were spouting off antiquated and hateful sentiments that the majority of the province doesn't not agree with. This was likely due to some left wing voters choosing to back the PC party rather than allow the WRP to take power, but that doesn't change the fact that the WRP was the author of their own demise.
You can think it is something else, but if they don't fix that perception, even the continual screwups from Redford won't allow for a WRP majority.
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I agree with CC that you are mischaracterizing the "bozo eruptions" by claiming that the WRP "embraced extremist elements". They did fail to effectively
denounce those elements, however, which was ultimately their downfall. As you say, they authored their own demise there.
That said, a party with 34% of the vote has widespread support among the mainstream, and that should have been deeply concerning for the PCs. Mid-term polls are dangerous to read too much into because the opposition parties often score higher in them. Chances are that the protest "votes" going to the Liberals and NDP in the polls today will shift back to the PCs come the next election as it will shape up to be another WRP vs. PC battle. The question will come down to how effective Wildrose's work as the Opposition plus their continued evolution of party platform is at leeching support from the Tories.