Winner: Tomas Mulcair, his clear but sophisticated answers and smooth responses in both official languages made him the clear winner of the debate. During the French debate he focused more strongly on his Quebec origins citing several of the provinces policies, a strategy that has been shown effective in during federal elections. His moderate views will be able to attract the centre-left voters from the wake of the Liberal party.
Niki Ashton: confident and with vision and ideas Ms Ashton is clearly
the leading female candidate. Drawing on the party's success in Manitoba
provincially, she is an intelligent and competent politician but her learned French is not up to standard. She would make a solid second or third choice.
Allan Cullen: While he performed well in the English debate he has clearly been taking lessons from M. Harper's french teacher and flopped during the French debate.
Brian Topp: expected to be one of the front runners but
his nerves came through with shifting gaze and leaning from side to size
like he was standing on a boat rocking in the waves. Although
policy-wise he was a respectable candidate he lacks the confident
personality epitomized by Jack Layton. When your party is lacking in
governing experience you need a leader who embodies confidence that
voters can trust.
Paul Dewar: Dorky and awkward on stage and lacking a strong vision, Mr. Dewar would be a leader of last resort.
Martin Sigh: his single minded focus on small businesses might have
ensured he got his message across (in English at least) but made him
feel like a one issue leader without the breath of knowledge or vision
required for a national leader. To put the cherry on the cake his learned french was not much better than Elizabeth May which is not acceptable for a party dominated by Quebec MPs.
Romeo Saganash: the token first nation and Quebecer, Saganash at moments reminded me of the Bloc Quebecois. From the accented English to the emphasis he put on Quebec and extra emphasis on First Nation issues, he will not have the nation-wide appeal needed by the NDP if they are to hold onto the gains from the last election.
Peggy Nash: I has serious doubts whether Ms. Nash has had a
single original thought in her entire life. She puppeted the party line
without seeming to understand the point behind them. She spent more time Harper-bashing than explaining her own policy and ideas. While she is saved from last place in my books by attempting to speak french, her french skill are no better than her policy (non-existent).
Robert Chisholm: the only candidate who refused to
speak French during the debate a complete embarrassment when over 50% of
the caucus was elected in Quebec. He managed to ask one question en francais but it was barely understandable.
