ABOVE: The leaders of Ontario’s three main political parties squared off in a debate focusing on corruption, catchphrases and bad math. Alan Carter breaks it all down.
TORONTO – Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak and Andrea Horwath stepped into the ring Tuesday to battle for title of Ontario’s premier.
They emerged 90 minutes later, with no clear winner.
“If anybody was expecting sort of a knockout blow anywhere, I think they’ll be very disappointed,” said Ryerson University politics professor John Shields.
“This is not a game changer. This sort of holds more or less the status quo in terms of where the election has been to this point.”
That said, Shields added, if you were leaning one way or another this debate may have solidified your choice.
Read More: Corruption, bad math, gas plants the focus of Ontario leaders’ debate
And plenty of people are still making up their minds: A June 2 poll indicated almost 41 per cent of people were waiting until after the debate to decide whom to vote for.
But someone had to win or lose, right?
Here’s a brief breakdown of each leader’s performance.
Kathleen Wynne
Wynne was forced on to the defensive with the first question regarding the two cancelled gas plants, for which she seemed oddly unprepared given how much it’s been in the news. But she seemed to become “more premier-like” as the debate drummed on, Shields said. Her responses gained authority, although her expansive hand movements may have distracted some.
WATCH: Kathleen Wynne committed to staying positive following attacks from the other candidates in the Ontario leaders debate
Read More: Fact-checking the Ontario Leaders Debate
Tim Hudak
Hudak went on the offensive immediately, attacking Wynne for her scandals and Horwath for her support of the Liberals over two previous budgets.
He also enumerated several anecdotes that, Shields said, were an attempt to appeal to the “average voter.”
Hudak may have been the lone leader to attempt a knockout punch, or at least to play a surprise hand: He promised to resign if he didn’t create a million jobs, which he’s given himself eight years to do.
“I don’t think people take those things too seriously, quite honestly,” Shields said.
“This was his way of saying ‘I’m going to try and bring some kind of accountability.’”
Andrea Horwath
Shields argues Horwath lost this debate. She has the most to gain from a successful campaign in terms of fashioning herself as a viable alternative but “is not picking up very much steam,” Shields said.
“She needed to get really in there and perform,” he said. “I think she did an ok job but I mean, certainly nothing that’s going to hold her out as a being a winner of the debate or anything of that nature.”
WATCH: Andrea Horwath says debate showed Ontario voters there is a third option
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