Heating up in a cold climate
February 8, 2008 | 06:02 PM
Kim Trynacity
Call me isolated or warped but I like elections. I like the posturing, the outrageous, and all the attention I get as a reporter when I walk into a room.
Suddenly I'm everyone's best friend. Candidates slip their cards into my palm like dirty money. Their eyes follow me across the floor as I cast a furtive glance for the salvation of my cameraman in tow.
When I'm cornered, my Blackberry goes off at precisely the right moment, just as they're telling me about another wonderful volunteer who has joined their cause.
It is great... really, especially when I see campaigns actually gelling. Late this afternoon, as I was scanning my e-mail inbox —- and junk too because a lot goes there these days — I noticed a e-mail titled "Billion dollar bombshell.”
Well, it's finally starting I thought. For the first time that I can recall, the PCs issued a press release not only acknowledging that the Liberals exist, but also attacking their idea of capping emissions from the oilsands producers.
I called the Liberals for a response but they hadn't yet seen the release. It was clear to me: There is actually a race in Alberta and it's on. Voters ought not to be taken for granted.
This is just the end of week one. We may actually get the debate in public that has been muted by years of short legislative sessions.
Today, I did a story about the cyber campaign. I didn't follow the leaders or stand for hours on concrete floors waiting for a photo-op. But I'm looking forward to doing that next week again. It's a chance to meet the folks who've come out to see the candidates, or who happen to be having lunch when they show up.
Speaking of lunch, they were serving borsch at the Wetaskiwin legion Thursday. This may call for a return next week!
