Watching a program about Ontario politics the other day, there was an opportunity to watch the two major opposition party leaders in the province. We will be seeing much more of them as the provincial election marathon heads for a conclusion in October. As a political public relations advisor for many years, there was an automatic evaluation of their political persona. Neither leader did well.
But there is lots of time for them to improve their performances. The public will get more interested and involved in the campaign sometime in the early fall.
Conservative Leader Tim Hudak will turn off Ontario voters in droves if he does not lose that cherubic smirk on his face. He is a PR person’s dream in how he stays ‘on message’ but this could turn into a problem if voters perceive him as a parrot without depth. His wife, Deb Hutton was one of the architects of the Mike Harris regime at Queen’s Park and it is obvious that she is channelling her skills in just one direction. Hudak makes sure he mentions ‘family’ at least once in every sentence and before he finishes any answer, you can be sure you will know how he is going to protect Ontario families in that regard.
It is the smirk that has to go. It is enough to get any hockey loving Ontario male to do flip-flops with his stomach and intestines. Watch Hudak for five minutes and then try to resist the urge to waste your breakfast. Maybe, Mom Deb thinks it will appeal to the Ontario female but that is a franchise already held by the Liberal’s Dalton McGinty.
Andrea Horwath is the more interesting PR problem. The New Democratic Party leader talks too fast. As befits a skilled union organizer, she talks fast and tough. She is tough. You really do not want to take this person on in the new ultimate fighting.
But she could use a little polish. We would not want to see her crooking her pinkie just so while holding her tea cup but she is educated and needs to speak slower and enunciate her words better. She needs more practice talking about the ‘rain in Spain’ before speeding up her delivery. Yes, people can understand words spoken at over 400 words per minute but the diction must be crystal clear.
Content for Horwath is another matter. She needs a repertoire that goes beyond the NDP songbook. She needs to study Tony Blair in England, Bob Rae before his union-gaffes in Ontario and recognize that not all issues are union based.
What Ontario really needs is leadership that can articulate a positive future for its citizens. It needs leadership out of the energy mess we are in, positive answers to medicare questions, a job strategy beyond Walmart, transportation solutions and the list goes on. Are we asking too much from a ten-month campaign?
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