The Stelmach swagger
February 29, 2008 | 09:47 AM
Kim Trynacity
On a campaign stop Thursday in Edmonton-Riverview, currently held by Liberal Leader Kevin Taft, the media was told to gather at the local Starbucks where Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach would have a coffee and chat with folks.
Starbucks had no problem with the folks; they didn't want the cameras inside thank you very much.
I pumpeded into a tall dark patron who was fixing his coffee.
"So, here to see Ed Stelmach?" I queried.
Mr. Tall Dark looked at me and almost yelped: "Absolutley not!"
OK, I thought, I'll just sip my coffee patiently.
Then we were told to gather across the parking lot at a tea shop. Once the Ed bus rolled in, he was greeted by campaign managers and party brass. No real people here, but another photo-op — and a pesky Sierra Club woman who once again confonted Ed about the oilsands.
After it was over, there was a bit of a swagger in Ed's step. No longer with sweaty brow and stutter, he was brandishing a dentured smile as he held his head high.
"65," I heard someone whisper.
65 seats, pronounced one of the gathered party people. That explains the swagger, I thought. Only a few more days to go and the Conservatives are confident of an even bigger majority.
I watched the bus drive away in a cloud of dust.
Comments: (1)
If Ed gets all the seats he thinks he is going to get I just wonder how he will handle all his new MLAs who do not seem to have a clue what their party's policies are. I attended a forum recently and I have no idea what party the candidate allegedly representing the PCs really belongs to as what he was saying sounded a lot like a combination of NDP, Liberal and Green policies. I have noticed in statements other candidates have made that they refer to what they would do, not what their party would do. So if they do get elected Ed may have his hands full getting them whipped into the party line.
Posted February 29, 2008 09:04 PM