A dull day is a good day

Alan is not impressed — he wants more conflict and vitriol.

Know who this helps? Stephen Harper.

Harper wants a calm, steady campaign:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s campaign, after just four days, has become defined by a clear tactical strategy — avoid risk, limit exposure to voters who are opponents and control the message.

The Conservative leader’s national tour so far has adopted the traditional approach of a front-running candidate who has a strong lead in the polls.

Why is he doing that? This:

In rhetoric delivered to inspire their supporters and win over voters, Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton have both painted Stephen Harper as their prime political target.

But their words and their actions seem to tell a different story.

In the first three days of the 2011 campaign, the Liberal Leader has taken his plane to ridings that are held by New Democrats.

And on Tuesday, Mr. Layton will repay the favour, heading to Brant and Kitchener, Ont., where the Liberals have always enjoyed good support even if they were not victorious on election night in 2008.

So Prime Minister Harper — it’s been noted that his staff are tagging him as such, which departs somewhat from the practice of elections past — floats lazily above it all, talks calmly, and warns against reckless policies of his opponents.

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Also: bad news for the Conservatives to see Elizabeth May excluded from the debates.

She is in shock.

Well, this is not surprising — her party doesn’t have any seats. What’s more, May keeps on trying to knock off Tory cabinet ministers. Maybe she’ll succeed this time, but she could’ve been in Parliament last time out if she hadn’t tried to take on Peter MacKay.

Here’s a thought: it might be worth it for the PM to make it known that he wouldn’t mind her being in the debate — she’s always been nasty to him, so he’d look more statesman-like, and it’d help keep the vote split on the left.

Just a thought.

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On the other hand, the dull, calm campaign with the “last reasonable man” voice has worked so far, so what the heck.

Steady as she goes, Stephen!

Update: Layton, Ignatieff say okay to May; Harper’s people? — Not so much.

Oh well.

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