Clear and unequivocal proof Stephen Harper reads Political Bytes!!

Barely two days after a posting here that the Prime Minister hadn't much (i.e. only once) casually chatted with reporters — at the back of the plane, or bus, or vineyard, or anywhere unofficial for that matter since his campaign began — presto change-o and he did just that Saturday, moments before the Conservative jet left Iqaluit after a day trip (Beatles reference intentional) to the northern riding of Nunavut.

Paul Hunter

Back he came, and for several minutes he held a friendly, engaging chat on a range of topics.

They included the hockey book he's authoring (he's making progress, spending about 15 minutes a day at it and has hired a researcher at personal expense to help him), on driving (he doesn't anymore, though RCMP tell him they'd give him the wheel if he really wanted to), his son Ben (an excellent young hockey player who isn't keen on competitive leagues but loves the game), on the funky new sweater he debuted today ("It's my Hillary pantsuit"), on the new YouTube viral Coupures en Culture which mocks the recent federal cuts to the arts ("I haven't seen it … I hear it's very funny"), and on pretty much anything else anyone wanted to yack about.

He did have some boundaries.

When asked for his thoughts on Sarah Palin, he smiled and said he wouldn't comment on her or anyone competing in the U.S. presidential campaign.

"I've got to work with whoever wins," he said.

Then he had a question for reporters: Who's with Conservatives next week? A few raised their hands. Then a single solitary journo noted aloud that in fact he's with Harper the rest of the way through to voting day.

Said Harper: "I feel sorry for you - there may be more colourful stories for you on one or two of the other campaigns" — a not so subtle jab at the (as Harper would have it, disintegrating) other leader tours.

Who's the lone reporter with Harper each and every day of his 2008 campaign?

Your agent. Me.

So stay tuned.

— Paul Hunter