Harper tries to preserve lead in polls by dodging media as campaign closes

[Harper_is_Bush]

PLEASE RATE THIS UP!

Harper tries to preserve lead in polls by dodging media as campaign closes

OTTAWA (CP) - Stephen Harper was trying to run out the clock Saturday and withstand another barrage of Liberal attacks designed to slow the front-running Conservatives in the final days of the election campaign.

But the Tory leader's plan to avoid any questions in the campaign's final hours - particularly those focused on the social issues that are the party's weak flank - was abandoned after a scuffle between a party worker and a television reporter from Quebec.

Tory staffers said Harper wouldn't have time for any more formal news conferences, preferring instead to deliver stump speeches and protect a lead that new polls suggest has narrowed to just seven percentage points.

But that was before Lina Dib, a reporter for the French-language television network TVA, was grabbed from behind by a campaign staffer as she pursued one of the party's local candidates during a swing through Toronto.

SNIP

Harper's hopes for a Quebec breakthrough may have suffered a blow, however, when French networks showed footage of TVA's Dib raging at the party worker who tried to stay her pursuit of local candidate John Carmichael.

"Don't hold me - is that clear?" Dib fumed at the sheepish-looking fellow.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060121/ca_pr_on_na/fedelxn

That is HILLAREOUS! I wonder if the news in Canada will pick it up. Lord knows if it was the Liberal campaign that cut off the media and had thier security grab a reporter it would be PLASTERED up and down every rag in Canada.

PLEASE go rate this up. Not sure if it helps, but who knows?

Thx.

[tuvor]

1. Bad move on Harper's part.

Which is fine with me.

Both CBC Radio and CKNW in Vancouver led off with the story this afternoon.

[AX10]

2. How much attention is this getting?

[Harper_is_Bush]

5. It's very new. It was around midday he cut off access....

long enough for it to become news.

Then after the Quebec reporter was grabbed they re-instated access.

The reason for cutting access off was pretty lame...."no time". No time, it's a friggin election campaign, that's all they do is expose themselves to reporters. So to speak.

They just didn't want to take anymore questions. No press conferences.

Who does that remind you of?

[daleo]

3. Well, Layton's really going after Harper on this one

"New Democrat Leader Jack Layton, on a cross-country blitz Saturday that began in Vancouver, called Harper's initial refusal to talk to reporters "odd and surprising when you're in the middle of a democratic process.""

Hard hitting or what?

:rofl:

[Harper_is_Bush]

6. At the risk of offending the Laytonites here....

No shit. :eyes:

At least we can count on Martin to take the fight to Harper:

"Stephen Harper says he believes in open and accountable government. But now, he'll no longer make himself available to the press,"
"Stephen Harper says he wants members of Parliament to play a greater role in Parliament. He says he wants them to have a greater say, a greater voice. All the time, that is, except during an election campaign.
"For the past month, Mr. Harper has had to keep many of his Conservative members in hiding. The reason is very clear. He doesn't want his Conservative candidates to tell Canadians what they stand for. He doesn't want them to say what they believe. He doesn't want them to say what they'd be working for if Stephen Harper ever formed a government."

[applegrove]

11. I agree. Layton was power-hungry and didn't take the fight to where

it mattered all the time. People are disgusted. And it looks like the NDP is loosing to greens. Greens are doing better than ever.

So - with the electorate more split - maybe Harper's play on Layton will work.. and Harper will get a majority.

Layton should have stuck to the issues. Those fears Buzz Harzgrove had of neocons were real. I can understand Layton's anger at a union person saying we need anyonebutharper. But it should not be Canadians who pay for that.

[mom cat]

4. K&R and LOL! Thanks and hope it is widely viewed in Canada.

[Harper_is_Bush]

7. Thanks! Did you go rate the yahoo story? n/t

[mom cat]

8. No, but I'll go do that now.

[Hoping4Change]

9. Kudos to the journalist for her spirited no holds barred response!

That kind of response could very well make people stand up and take notice of the evasiveness in Lumpy's campaign that has been under the radar. That whole little scene spoke volumes. Here is someone doing her job when all of a sudden some heavy handed jerk comes from behind. Very chilling image really.

[HuffleClaw]

10. they are screwing themselves AGAIN

just like last time. this is hilarious. and a godsend i might add.

[hopeisaplace]

12. I had seen it on the news at 5:00pm, and the incident replayed all day on

a Toronto Radio Station...
(didn't check the other channels)

..what a joke, it appears the Cons are really trying to
zip their lips to save a win.

edit: typo

[Harper_is_Bush]

13. we need a Canadian canofun. n/t

[Harper_is_Bush]

14. Kick. Any VIDEO of this anyplace?? n/t

[mdmc]

15. nominated

I'd like to see the video too...