Re: Saskatchewan Election -- Saskatchewan Election Kickoff

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Date Posted: 09:32:36 10/10/03 Fri
Author: Pat Bundrock
Subject: Re: Saskatchewan Election
In reply to: Peter Ryan 's message, "Saskatchewan Election" on 12:58:50 10/09/03 Thu

I love you too PEte, from the U of S days.

>Saskatchewan Election Primer: NDP on the Defensive
>
>October 21st 1991 saw the ascension of Saskatchewan�s
>NDP under the tutelage of Roy Romanow, from the tired
>Tory administration of Grant Devine, in what proved to
>be one of the province�s most dynamic election
>campaigns. For eight years, the PC government had run
>the fiscal cupboard bare, and with a well orchestrated
>campaign from the get-go led by perhaps the most able
>politician in Saskatchewan history, the folksy Devine
>and his minions were swept from power.
>
>Fast forward twelve years.
>
>Current NDP premier, Lorne Calvert calls a provincial
>election for November 5th, 2003. Calvert, no matter
>how integral, has led Saskatchewan into a deficit
>position, and by all accounts, has badly managed the
>provincial crown corporations, providing ample fodder
>for the opposition Saskatchewan Party and Liberals.
>This election should have the makings of a 1991
>Romanowesque rout. But,not quite�.
>
>Leadership played a huge role in Romanow�s initial
>win. Positioning the telegenic, self-assured, and
>suave NDP leader in front of the television cameras
>provided the NDP with a star quality that complimented
>its slick and savvy media campaign. A player on the
>national scene from the 1982 constitutional
>negotiations, Romanow�s confidence shattered the shaky
>PC campaign, by promising economic integrity and no
>ideological shift toward socialism.
>
>Contrast the NDP winning formula with that of the
>current front running Saskatchewan Party, whose leader
>Elwin Hermanson has done little to galvanize support
>in Saskatoon and Regina. Hermanson, a defeated Reform
>Party MP from Preston Manning�s inner circle, is at
>best a mediocre debater, and has done little to secure
>the much needed support of middle-of-the-road voters
>in urban Saskatchewan. As well, while Calvert has
>little credibility with voters from a fiscal
>management standpoint, he is viewed by a vast majority
>of those recently polled as more trustworthy than the
>lacklustre Sask. Party leader. Should personality
>become an issue in this election, the NDP could soon
>find themselves on the offensive.
>
>However, that scenario is unlikely, given Calvert�s
>move to make crown corporation public ownership the
>main focus of his campaign, a tact attempted by NDP
>premier Alan Blakeney in 1982, which failed miserably.
> It should also be noted that the Saskatchewan Party�s
>Grow Saskatchewan policy of increasing the population
>by 100,000 over ten years by slashing taxes has
>bombed. As well, recent statements by Sask. Party
>officials that their ability to cut taxes should they
>form government be limited, as well as revelations of
>a �Hit List� of civil servants with NDP affiliations
>smacks of amateur hour. Recent reports of Preston
>Manning being enlisted to help in the transition to
>government in an office largely controlled by tired
>Devine hacks and ex Reform Ottawa staffers will do
>little to aid Hermanson, either.
>
>Both parties are also limited in their candidate
>stock, as well. The NDP has all but lost its stellar
>line up of cabinet ministers, with the exception of
>the innovative and intelligent Eric Cline. The Sask.
>Party, while certainly boasting some excellent
>candidates, have also exercised poor judgement by
>allowing the nominations of ex-motorcycle gang member
>Jim McCallister, and former aide to Independent
>controversial MP Jim Pankiw, Patrick Bundrock.
>
>The wild card in this year�s vote will be the moribund
>Liberals. Having had several leaders since the ouster
>of Lynda Haverstock in 1995, the traditional third
>party has been largely discredited, despite the
>attempts of young leader David Karwacki. However,
>should the Sask. Party campaign falter, the
>possibility for the Grits to hold on to its few
>ridings from the last election could be in the cards.
>
>Will the NDP be defeated by the Sask. Party?
>Conventional wisdom says yes. However, given the poor
>state of leadership, candidates, and campaign planning
>relating to both parties, expect no landslides.

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Replies:

Re: Saskatchewan Election -- merv, 19:38:45 10/18/03 Sat