There were more loud jeers aimed at reporters today, as Conservatives continued a trend in federal elections also adopted by other parties of holding "leader media availabilities" in front of a crowd of party supporters.

What can happen, especially as races tighten, is that crowds seem to interpret tough questions as personal attacks on Harper or other leaders — which of course they are not — and so they boo the reporter. It’s awkward and uncomfortable and wrong. For the second straight day (third time this campaign) it happened on the Harper tour today in Brantford, Ont. And as in previous times Harper said nothing about the booing. That is, until the next reporter to ask a question prefaced his query with a request in French that the PM ask the crowd to refrain. He did. And they did, after more loud grumbling. Press Secretary Dimitri Soudas later said he will ask the crowd to respect the circumstance ahead of time in future. Issue resolved.

— Paul Hunter