2008 Federal Leaders Debate A Hit In Canada

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Last night was one that prime time viewers across Canada could basically call the night of duelling debates: on the Canadian networks it was the Federal Leaders Debate that featured Stephen Harper, Stephane Dion, Jack Layton, Elizabeth May and Gilles Duceppe and on the US networks the Vice Presidential Debate featured Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

BBM Nielsen Media Research is reporting that In Toronto, Canadians chose to tune into the Federal Leaders debate as opposed to the Biden vs. Palin debate by a 3-1 margin, in Vancouver by a 4-1 margin and in Calgary by a 3.5-1 margin.

All in all, it is being reported that 2.5 million Canadians watched the Federal Leaders debate in whole or in part on the three major Canadian networks, CBC, CTV and Global.

On the Canadian web pages I surfed through briefly today, there were a polls asking for a response about the Federal Leaders Debate. Sympatico's daily poll: Who do you think won the debate? Results from around 8 pm this evening: Dion; 11%; Duceppe 1%; Layton 13%; Harper 39%; May 11%; Not sure 25%

Canada.com;s daily poll asked the question: Did the debate change your vote? Results so far, again from around 8 pm: 74% No; 9% Yes; 7% possibly; 10% What debate?

Ipsos published what they are calling a “near instantaneous” poll, taken during the debate, that showed 31% of debate watchers believed Stephen Harper was winning; 25% favored Jack Layton; 17% favored Elizabeth May; 15% favored Stephane Dion; 10% Did Not Answer; and 2% favored Gilles Duceppe.

A few other interesting tidbits. When Canadians were asked who sounded the most “Prime Ministerial”, Harper garnered 47% of the vote, Layton 24%; Dion 16%; May 7%; and Duceppe and No Answer both scored 3%.

Just for the heck of it, let's talk about likability. Layton won the Miss Congeniality portion of the evening at 31% and Harper and May were next, tied at 25% each; Dion came in with 10%; Duceppe 7% and the ones who had fallen asleep and therefore could not respond scored 3%.

Putting all of that aside, a startling (well to me, anyway) number comes to light. 85% of those polled did not change their mind about who to vote for after watching the debate.

On a more personal level, after taking repeated swipes and smears from Jack Layton, such as “You say you’ve got a plan, where is it? Where’s your platform? Under the sweater?” ... “The sweater is nice but they’d like to know what your plans are.“ and “Either you don’t care or you’re incompetent, which is it?”, Stephen Harper chose neither a) he just don't care or b) hey, I'm an incompetent and goes for this little gem: “I use the public health care system. My family uses the public health care system. In fact, in the last federal election campaign at one point it turned out I was the only national leader actually who had used exclusively the public health care system.”. Layton, immediately puts on his best scowl and infers that after taking repeated blows from the four “leaders” at the round table, the real bully was Harper ... “It’s a cheap shot.“

And hands down, the best line, IMO was delivered by Duceppe: “Well, I know I won’t be prime minister. And three of you won’t be prime minister, neither. [when he said this he looked over to Layton, Dion, and then May] Some of you know it, but you don’t say it.” Ah, the bluntness of a person trying to get his or her point across in their non-native language is truly refreshing, isn't it?