Last Day on the Trail:

Headlines See Tory Minority Win

Describing a stumbling finish and campaign failures, news reports raised expectations the Conservative Party would cling to a minority government in the federal election. Media coverage emphasized the election outcome would be close, with more than a third of voters still unsure about their choice and a Liberal minority as a possible surprise result.

Conservatives Nurse Falling Support Across Finish Line

The influence of news coverage declined significantly with several major newspapers not publishing Sunday, and family attention turning away from the campaign during the Thanksgiving weekend. Predicting there will be no majority government, news reports delivered a message that the Conservatives were nursing a declining lead in voter support across the finish line.

Mixed Coverage Sees Election Outcome Up For Grabs

Assessing the campaign on its final weekend, news reports observed Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper failed to react quickly to the world financial crisis. Pollsters commented that the Conservative Party was clinging to voter support for a minority government, but warned surveys had not fully captured voter fear and worry over the economy.

Conservatives Hit by Negative News on Afghanistan, Economy

On the last Friday before voting day, the Conservative government was swamped by negative news. Election coverage positioned the government as shifting policy on the world financial crisis, after weeks of saying the fundamentals are sound. News reports also emphasized the Conservative government failed to meet its promise of transparency on Afghan war costs.

Liberals Get Positive Coverage on the Economy, Financial Crisis

With just five days left before the federal election, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion received positive coverage for a speech on the economy and world financial crisis. NDP Leader Jack Layton said Conservatives are out of touch with voters’ fears and worries. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper urged Canadians not to panic, and promised more doctors and nurses for health care.

Harper Bolsters Coverage Through Network Interviews

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper released an election platform and provided prominent television interviews in a bid to halt his party’s slide in voter support. Columnists and media analysts saw the campaign perched on a tipping point, with growing fear about the world financial crisis and a downturn in the economy. Opposition leaders harshly attacked Harper for failing to make jobs and the economy a higher priority.

Conservatives Struggle to Shift Message on the Economy

A steep plunge in financial markets led to a sea of negative headlines for the Conservative government as Leader Stephen Harper struggled to recalibrate his election message on the economy. The sharp focus on financial turmoil provided a lift for Liberal Leader Stephane Dion’s troubled campaign, and NDP Leader Jack Layton positioned the Conservatives as out of step and out of touch with worried voters.

Negative Headlines for Conservatives Open Final Week

Kicking off the final week of the campaign, a salvo of negative headlines for the Conservative Party emphasized the Afghanistan war, a recession, eroding support in Quebec and new criticism about the listeria health crisis. NDP Leader Jack Layton appealed for strategic voting against the Conservatives, and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion portrayed the government as out of touch with economic troubles.

Light Coverage Shifts Focus
to Downturn in the Economy

Election news reports suggest voter reaction to layoffs, financial market turmoil and growing recession fears will play a key role in the closing days of the federal campaign. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper urged voters not to panic, while a chorus from opposition leaders demanded more urgent action by the federal government. A Calgary Herald article noted economic worries have shifted the environment out of the spotlight.

Election Coverage Frames Ballot Question Around a Majority

Featuring party leaders heading into the final stretch of the campaign, news reports framed the ballot question around whether Conservative Leader Stephen Harper can ride a lead in voter support into a majority victory. Several print articles suggested  his party was losing ground in Quebec, putting a majority in jeopardy.  Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe received national media attention for an economic speech in Toronto.

Harper Withstands Barrage,
NDP Performs Well, Liberals Fade

Extensive election coverage for the English leaders’ debate positioned Prime Minister Stephen Harper as surviving combined opposition attacks. NDP Leader Jack Layton was prominently featured in news reports as a strong performer, along with the Green Party’s Elizabeth May. Liberal Leader Stephane Dion was not dominant in news coverage, and columns said he failed to  connect with voters.

Conservatives Hit by Wave
of Negative Election Coverage

Several negative media items unrelated to the French leaders’ debate targeted the Conservative Party over the Bernier Affair, the listeria outbreak, and dimming hopes in Quebec for a majority government.  Liberal Leader Stephane Dion received positive reviews for his performance in the first televised debate, suggesting he effectively challenged the government’s handling of the economy.

Conservatives Hit by Plagiarism, Bernier Affair, More Candidate Controversy

The Conservative campaign was knocked off balance the day before televised leaders’ debates by a powerful Liberal attack over an important 2003 speech on Iraq by Leader Stephen Harper, that was clearly plagiarized from then Australian prime minister John Howard, a strong supporter of both Harper and U.S. President George W. Bush.