CAQ leader Francois Legault plans to ‘test’ Philippe Couillard at TV debate

MONTREAL – CAQ leader Francois Legault will be the first to admit his election campaign is off to a slow start.

He’s watched a star candidate flip to the Liberals, his poll numbers have dropped, and this week one of the province’s largest newspapers, La Presse, published an embarassing cartoon showing Legault at the front seat of a broken-down campaign bus.

“It’s not easy, but there are still three weeks left,” Legault told reporters at a news conference Wednesday.

Just like PQ leader Pauline Marois did Tuesday, Legault also changed his game plan to focus his efforts on attacking Liberal leader Philippe Couillard.

In a recent CROP poll, Couillard’s Liberals were three points ahead of the second place Parti-Quebecois.

“Quebecers deserve better that what Mr. Couillard is offering,” Legault said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Quebecers deserve better that what Mr. Couillard is offering," Legault said.

“He is not ready to govern Quebec.”

Legault added Couillard is scoring easy points by instilling fear about a possible referendum.

The CAQ founder says he is looking forward to Thursday’s debate where he says he will “test” Couillard.

Legault believes he can get back on track with a strong showing at the debate.

Political analyst Harold Chorney says it’s do-able, but Quebecers have historically shyed away from the “third party” when separation becomes a top issue in an election campaign.

“The moment you mention the possibility of Quebec separating and having a referendum,” Chorney says.

“Right away all the CAQ voters who were nervous about that think it’s time to go back to the Liberals.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Right away all the CAQ voters who were nervous about that think it's time to go back to the Liberals."

The Liberal party seems to know this very well.

On the Global Morning News show Wednesday, Dr. Gaetan Barrette, Liberal candidate in La Piniere, took several shots at his former boss.

“The CAQ is really Liberal at the bottom,” Dr. Barrette said.

“But at the top, those leading the party like Francois Legault, are still P-Q”.