Tom Mulcair put in a strong performance at the final leaders’ debate of this federal election campaign, analysts say, but it may not have been enough to convince Quebecers to stick with the NDP on Oct. 19.
A panel of three political journalists joined Tom Clark on The West Block this weekend, and the consensus seemed to be that Mulcair didn’t manage to outshine Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe the way he needed to.
READ MORE: Highlights from the final leaders’ debate
Trudeau, meanwhile, has benefited from low expectations throughout the 78-day campaign, the panel suggested.
“The Liberals under Justin Trudeau, we all thought the guy was going to explode, or rather implode, during a campaign,” said Mark Kennedy of the Ottawa Citizen.
“He never did well in the House of Commons. He had stupid remarks. He hasn’t made stupid remarks, and what has he done in the debates? He’s done well.”
Trudeau is just one of many big surprises that have emerged during this campaign, suggested Susan Delacourt of the Toronto Star.
“I think all of them did not expect that they would have to spend time in the places they’re going to have to spend time,” she said. “I think Mulcair thought Quebec was safe. He was probably going to spend more time out. He’ll probably be spending more time in Quebec. Justin Trudeau is going to have to pay attention to his riding, you know, that it’s close there. And Alberta is not a slam-dunk for the Conservatives anymore either. I think the nature of where they’re going in the last two weeks speaks to the surprise element in this campaign.”
Asked to describe the last two weeks of the race in one word, both Delacourt and Kennedy picked the same one:
“Unpredictable.”
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