In a city where the environment is a big issue, a chance to speak in a public meeting on environmental issues during a by-election might be a good thing.
Well, especially if you are a candidate.
Lots of people protesting tire burning. Government conveniently dodges a bullet on the issue right before the writ drops. You promise to be a strong “voice” for constituents. Might be an idea to show up for a few hours in a debate format, say a few words and then get back to whatever else you are doing.
Even if the audience is hostile, it works to show you have the stones to face them. How are you gonna stare down a hard-nosed cabinet minister like Kevin O’Brien or Charlene Johnson if a few hippies scare you crapless?
And after all it’s only a couple of hours.
Even if you want to play the company-town-man, you are likely to get more of your own votes with the days of coverage of you tackling the tree-huggers rather than putting out some completely lame-assed excuse delivered via a representative.
These points are evidently lost on Conservative Vaughn Granter. He begged off a debate sponsored by a local environmental group. The VOCM version quotes an “associate” who says the man has a “door-to-door” strategy.
Whatever.
If he’s as overwhelmingly popular and as phenomenally well-known in the city as Granter claimed with on Open Line with Randy Simms on Wednesday, then Vaughn could skip a couple of doors and no one would really notice. That is, he could skip them in a good cause like generating some media coverage to reach more people and reinforce his messages.
In another place, the candidate hisself could be heard on Wednesday babbling some drivel about having to spend a couple or three days boning up on the issues and that would just divert from his plan to shake every door and knock every hand. Not aware of the issues and the party position such that he has to do an intense three days holed up with a set of briefing notes?
Hardly something you’d want to admit, one might think.
Vaughn isn’t much on current affairs, then? Wee bit vague on what’s up?
Yeah.
Not the best line and not the best strategy, maybe.
Just saying.
.At least Vaughn has a few days to change his mind or get up to speed. The debate is set for February 10.
- srbp -
