Stunning News in this blog:
A) Three former Premiers – one Liberal, one Conservative, one NDP -- all said Elizabeth won the debate on CBC’s The Current.
B) A staggering 65% of English debate viewers said their impression of Elizabeth May and the Green Party improved –- far, far better than every other national leader -- leading Ipsos Reid CEO Darrell Briker to declare in The Globe and Mail that “a politiacal star is born" -– Elizabeth May.
C) The Green Party has hit 17% in vote rich Ontario –- the highest level ever!! according to Harris/Decima the pollster that most accurately predicted the outcome of the October 2007 Ontario election.
We’re basking in the glow of the post debate shift that’s occurring. So read on for the details . . .
A. Three Former Premiers declare Elizabeth the Debate Winner on The Current
On CBC Radio's "The Current" Friday morning, three former Premiers -- one Liberal, one Conservative, and one NDP all gave Elizabeth "the bouquet" (declaring her the Englihs debate winner). The three ex-premiers are:
Pat Duncan (Liberal, Yukon 1996-2006)
Grant Devine (Conservative, Saskatchewan 1982-1991)
Lorne Calvert (NDP, Saskatchewan 2001-2007)
You can listen to the podcast at http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/current_20081004_8011.mp3
Special thanks to Ariel Lade blogging about this!
B. The Globe and Mail headline said it all: 'A star is born' in Elizabeth May: pollster
“. . . it was Green Leader Elizabeth May who emerged the real winner of the round-table event,” said Ipsos Reid CEO Darrell Bricker commenting on the English language debate.
A staggering 65% of Canadians watching the English language debate said their impression of Elizabeth May and the Green Party improved – more than any other leader!
Mr. Bricker said “I think a political star was born last night [Thursday night].”
For the 2,512 Canadians Ipsos Reid surveyed during and immediately following the debate Elizabeth’s “first impression was really strong.” With such a large sample size the margin of error is only +/- 2%.
Elizabeth Has Highest Positive Ratings of All Leaders
Elizabeth May had the greatest improvement among Canadians of any leader in terms of their impressions. She had a net improvement of +49% [(improved impressions (65%) subtracting worsened impressions (16%) = 49%]. By contrast impressions of Stephen Harper worsened overall with a negative net score of minus 10 (-10). The other leaders all had positive scores: Jack Layton (+28); Stéphane Dion (net +11); Gilles Duceppe (+6).
From Ipsos Reid. I've added the 4th & 5th columns (Net Score & Rank)
It's important to note that Elizabeth has the highest positives and lowest negatives of all the national leaders! This bodes well in the last week of the campaign as voters finalize their voting decision.
Being included in the debates was a dream come true and the biggest boost the Green Party has ever had in Canada in its 25 year history! It was the crowning moment of all the hard work of thousands of members over 25 years.
More than three million Canadians watched the entire debate on CBC, CTV, Global, Newsworld, TVO or CTV Newsnet – and eight million Canadians watched some part of the debate.
Celebrate & Help
Celebrate the best moment ever in Green Party history right now by donating $25 or more right now (if you are a member) because we have to raise $400,000 in the final 10 days of the campaign to meet our budget.
Donate now at https://greenparty.ca/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1&source=JH...
Make a donation celebrate eight million Canadians for the first time hearing the Green Party policies for the first time ever! To celebrate Elizabeth’s success! To celebrate the Green Party's emergence onto center stage! To celebrate democracy!
Of course a $25 donation will only cost you as little as $6.25 because of the federal tax rebate for political donations
If you’re a party supporter (not a member) donate just $10 right now . It will help us have the most vigorous campaign possible.
A $10 donation will cost only $2.50 -- as you'll get $7.50 off your federal taxes owing.
Immediately below this blog you can download two files as Word documents: Word document for Greens to edit and send to their contacts.doc and Word cover email for Greens to edit and send to their contacts.doc. You can help by downloading them, modifying them as you wish, adding whatever you like and sending them out to your friends, family and email contacts -- uring them to donate just $10 to the Green Party. It will make a huge difference.
Our budget calls for raising another $400,000 in the last 8 days. To do everything the party has committed to do, to win the ridings we’re targeting to win, to run the ads that we need to run we need that remaining we need that $400,000. It sounds like a lot, but it’s actually not. If half of the 10,000 Green Party members donate just $25 – we’ll raised $125,000 of that $400,000.
If just one quarter of the 80,000 green supporters on our wider email list donate just $10 we’ll raise $200,000 of that $400,000 goal.
But we still need to reach more people. Asking your family and friends for just $10 isn't hard. But it will make a world of difference to the Green Party's campaign.
C. Impact of English Debate Reverberating in Vote-Rich Ontario
Greens at highest level ever in Province
In vote rich Ontario, which represents almost 40% of Canadian voters, the Green Party has climbed to 17% -- its highest level ever -– tied with the NDP at 17%.
From Harris/Decima study "Ontario Tightens, Greens a Factor" released Oct 3. Note: Harris/Decima was the most accurate polling company prediction the outcome of the October 2007 Ontario provincial election.
The Harris/Decima study also shows our support at the highest level ever among urban women -- and given that 80% of Canadians live in cities and 52% of Canadian voters are women this is significant.
Green Party policies such as income splitting for couples -– so women can afford to stay at home to raise their children if they choose to; addressing the root causes of childhood asthma; addressing the root causes of why 40% of Canadians will get cancer in their lifetime; opposing the war in Afghanistan;
our concern for the future –- for our children and grandchildren -– are all issues resonating with women –- and of course the fact that Jack Layton and Stephen Harper opposed Elizabeth’s inclusion in the debates is convincing more and more women to vote Green.
The Harris/Decima study also highlights how Elizabeth's leadership score is statistically tied with Harper's and ahead of Dion's! (see page 4).
You can download the full Harris/Decima study at http://www.harrisdecima.com/en/downloads/pdf/news_releases/100308E.pdf
Back to Debate Analysis
According to Ipsos-Reid, 20% of viewers thought Elizabeth and the Green Party offered the best policies and 17% thought Elizabeth won the debate – (ahead of Stephane Dion at 15%). Bricker called May, “a fresh face in the Canadian debates, a new star.”
CTV’s Analyst
Bernard Gauthier, a partner with public relations firm Delta Media, analyzed all the leaders’ performance for CTV's Canada AM
“The surprise performer of the night was Green Party leader Elizabeth May,” Gauthier said. “May delivered a strong performance” and she “absolutely” brought “a higher level of energy and a little bit of colour to the debate.”
"Everything was really polished. What surprised me and perhaps people at home was just how well prepared she was, how well briefed. She often had very specific points to make very clear, coherent arguments. I was really impressed."
Editorial from The Chronicle Herald in Nova Scotia
IF SUCCESS in debating is about exceeding expectations, then . . . Elizabeth May came out ahead in this week’s double-header of televised leaders’ debates. . . Ms. May needed to show she and her Green party were not just at the table as a democratic courtesy. . . Ms. May was well-informed on many issues and a sharp thorn in Mr. Harper’s side. In the English debate she shone, chastising Mr. Harper for failing to release a platform and for offering nothing new on economic issues. For Nova Scotians, she delivered the best zinger of the evening when, sweeping her hand over the table, she said Mr. Harper "swept aside" Bill Casey’s truthful objection that Mr. Harper’s first budget violated the Atlantic accords because "your word is law."
“There May be a winner in the debate”
Chronicle Herald election coverage headline
“The Green leader scored repeatedly, with sensible-sounding answers, and a nice, relaxed tone. She repeatedly mentioned the riding — for instance chiding Mr. Harper for ignoring the unemployed at Trenton Works.”
Help accelerate the incredible momentum we have going into the final 10 days of this campaign . . . help in continuing to make this dream come true – by donating and forwarding this message as an email to all your friends!
Thank you!
Jim Harris
National Campaign Chair
Président de la campagne nationale
Former Leader, Green Party of Canada
Ancien chef, Parti Vert du Canada
jim@greenparty.ca
PS For the most amazing photo see http://www.thestar.com/fpLarge/photo/511022
Here are links to some great articles:
'A star is born' in Elizabeth May: pollster
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081003.welxnEngDeba...
Post-Debate Summary: English-Language Leaders’ Debate: May Performs Well Above Expectations
http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=4106
CTV Expert critiques the leaders http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20081002/election200...
Canadian TV debate outdraws U.S. version http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/511713
Why Canada’s Green Party is (finally) a prime-time draw
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/10/02/why-canada%E2%80%99...