A week away from a campaign doesn't do any harm at all. In fact, sometimes it can offer new-found perspective.
I've been away from the NDP for a week now.

Rosemary Barton

Now, much has been written about sweaters in the first couple of weeks of this election. I have never been one to read much into sweaters, but I do have a keen eye for fashion choices and this one strikes me as rather telling.

It was, after all, Stephen Harper, and his blue sweater that started all of this. A pale, blue sweater that might have been cashmere, but to my untrained eye, looked more like a blend.

His sweater, has, of course, taken on a whole meaning: it is intended to convey the cozier side of the Prime Minister. The one who might gather round the fire and talk about hockey and piano and all the things we didn't know about him.

I couldn't help but notice the Prime Minister was sporting yet another kind of sweater yesterday in Iqaluit. This time it was a ski sweater. You know the kind, black and white and some sort of snowflake pattern. It was snowing up there so I suppose it was appropriate.

But it was quite a surprise to see Layton sporting a sweater today. He's been more of the suit, or shirt with sleeves rolled up kinda fella. Although it is Sunday and he was out canvassing most of the day, so it most certainly was appropriate attire.

Although it could mean, that Layton, pushing his bid to be Prime Minister this time round, is actually taking a page from the PM's playbook.

After a week away, one wonders if a sweater will ever just be a sweater again.

— Rosemary Barton