What is Doug Ford doing WRT the PC campaign?

[Murphy]

What is Doug Ford doing WRT the PC campaign. It's laid out in this article, including a map that shows the vote split between Ford and Elliot.

Doug Ford’s pitch to Ontario voters will cut costs, size of government — but no layoffs

Keeping it simple: Doug Ford says his pitch to Ontario voters will be five main points on things that affect their lives.
By Kristin Rushowy

Doug Ford’s pitch to Ontario voters will be simple — no glossy magazine with 147 promises like his predecessor — and the new leader of the Progressive Conservatives predicts his popularity will help the party nab 10 Toronto seats from the Liberals.

Ford’s platform would lower hospital wait times, cut hydro rates, reduce the size and cost of government — but he promises all that will be done through almost $6 billion of to-be-identified “efficiencies,” not job losses.

“Let me be clear: No one is getting laid off,” Ford said during an interview at the Etobicoke head office of his family’s labels business, amid Liberal predictions some 40,000 jobs are at stake.

As for a recent Forum Research poll that found the PCs would win a majority but almost half of those surveyed expressed disapproval of him as leader, he questioned the pollster and the small sample size and said he’s “seen polls that are absolutely opposite I am the only candidate out of anyone on both sides that attracts Liberal and NDP voters, and they know it.

The rest here:

https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...-costs-size-of-government-but-no-layoffs.html

 

[captain morgan]

Smart move.

Taking a middle-of-the-road approach is the safe play

 

[Murphy]

I agree. Based on past races, he has to stay on message and watch what he says to the media.

 

[captain morgan]

Wynne is behind the 8 ball and in all reality, she has to win this election.

All Ford has to do is not screw up and take a safe route in terms of his platform and policies

 

[Murphy]

Yes, but what will be on many people's minds is the Ford family history. Even with Rob dead, Doug said some silly things as councillor. With handlers and a matured outlook, one hopes he can hold it together. The alternative is chilling.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

You know, I liked Rob Ford. The way his career and life ended was train wreck of tragedy. People can make jokes about it, some of it was pretty zany, but when it went off the rails it was very sad to watch. We only lampoon the people we don't know when comes to addiction. Prior to that trainwreck, Rob was a dedicated City counselor, probably one of the best Toronto had ever seen

I actually hope Doug has matured and he wins. But then, I don't live in Ontario anymore.

I'm just waiting for Jason to kick Rachel to the curb.

And if we could rid of the terrorist/dictator hugging airhead in the next federal election that would also be good.

 

[Murphy]

We live in hope.

Now that the PCs have chosen their leader, they have to focus on the future.

The games are about to begin.

 

[Hoid]

The trouble is that the cons have no leaders or leadership.

As it has ever been.

 

[Murphy]

Of course they don't, sweetie. The world always listens to 14 year old boys like you. :lol: It's so cute how you try and upset the grown ups with your "witty repartee".

You should be in class learning something about the world! :lol:
---

It's started. This was released earlier today.

Statement from Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford on Prorogation
Posted on March 15, 2018

“By proroguing the Legislature, Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals want you to think this is a reset for their government. But the people of this province know better. There is no reset on 15 years of Liberal waste and political corruption.

“We’ve seen this story before. Kathleen Wynne is untrustworthy. Her government will say, do, and promise anything to cling to power. She is only interested in saving her own political career.

“Their most recent broken promise - plunging Ontario back into a deficit - shows they don't care about keeping their word.

“For 15 years Ontario families have struggled, and watched as Liberal insiders and elites grow rich. But I am here to tell you that the Premier's days are numbered.

“Relief for Ontario families is in sight. We are ready to fight for hard working Ontarians, and to put money back in the taxpayer's pocket. And we are just getting started.”

https://www.ontariopc.ca/statement_from_ontario_pc_leader_doug_ford_on_prorogation

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

It sounds good.

 

[Murphy]

Doug and late brother Rob did this. Go with your strengths.

Unfiltered Ford is the best chance for a PC victory in Ontario
- Jamie Watt, The Star

Selecting Doug Ford as its leader was a high risk, high reward choice for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party — and contrary to what critics believe, his greatest strength is his authenticity and straight-talking style, writes Jamie Watt.

excerpt:

Ford’s straight-talking style is jarring. For example, when a reporter asks him a question, he answers frankly. His answers have the ring of authenticity. It’s jarring only because Ontarians have grown accustomed to politicians speaking in terms that are rendered meaningless by political correctness.

Early media reviews of Ford’s style have been unflattering. A recent CBC interview portrayed the new leader as being “flustered” and “frustrated.” In fact, Ford’s interview was perfectly reasonable — and sounded so to Ontarians who are tired of the same old rhetoric.

When pressed on where he would come up with financing for his campaign platform, Ford said he would find it in “efficiencies” in government, a notion that has long been mocked by the media.

But when the reporter tried to skewer him for it, Ford quickly turned the tables, pointing out that he had actual experience in finding efficiencies and that he was going to find “four cents on the dollar.”

To many Ontario voters, this makes a lot of sense. Ontarians listening to that widely mocked radio interview almost certainly agree that four cents of every dollar spent by the Government of Ontario is wasted.

To many in the political class and the media, that idea is heresy. They insist it simply can’t be done.

These same commentators made these same comments during Mike Harris’s campaign. But the Harris team stayed the course, despite the concern of institutional worrywarts.

The result? The received wisdom was simply not right, and Harris was rewarded with a massive majority. Ontarians were fed up and that feeling of discontent simmers today.

So that’s Ford’s path to victory. He must continue telling his truths in the same real way that Ontarians believe. The man has a believability about him that other politicians just can’t capture.

There will be barrels of ink spilled on his errors and his approach, complaining that he simply doesn’t understand government and the nuances of policy. But many Ontarians feel our province is headed in the wrong direction. They might not be able to put their finger on it, but there is a deep-seated sense that the provincial government has gotten things wrong.

Doug Ford gives voice to that feeling of discontent. And regardless of what the experts say, it’s the Progressive Conservatives best chance to win government in a generation.

It will sometimes be tempting for political advisers to try to rein the leader in, or to make his messaging more professional and buttoned down. But that’s the exact wrong instinct.

A better instinct is to let Doug be Doug.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/sta...-best-chance-for-a-pc-victory-in-ontario.html

If he gets more positive press like this, he's guaranteed a win.

 

[taxslave]

The trouble is that the cons have no leaders or leadership.

As it has ever been.

You seem to have your parties mixed up. That would be the NonDemocraticParasites.

 

[Curious Cdn]

Doug and late brother Rob did this. Go with your strengths.

Unfiltered Ford is the best chance for a PC victory in Ontario
- Jamie Watt, The Star

Selecting Doug Ford as its leader was a high risk, high reward choice for the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party — and contrary to what critics believe, his greatest strength is his authenticity and straight-talking style, writes Jamie Watt.

excerpt:

Ford’s straight-talking style is jarring. For example, when a reporter asks him a question, he answers frankly. His answers have the ring of authenticity. It’s jarring only because Ontarians have grown accustomed to politicians speaking in terms that are rendered meaningless by political correctness.

Early media reviews of Ford’s style have been unflattering. A recent CBC interview portrayed the new leader as being “flustered” and “frustrated.” In fact, Ford’s interview was perfectly reasonable — and sounded so to Ontarians who are tired of the same old rhetoric.

When pressed on where he would come up with financing for his campaign platform, Ford said he would find it in “efficiencies” in government, a notion that has long been mocked by the media.

But when the reporter tried to skewer him for it, Ford quickly turned the tables, pointing out that he had actual experience in finding efficiencies and that he was going to find “four cents on the dollar.”

To many Ontario voters, this makes a lot of sense. Ontarians listening to that widely mocked radio interview almost certainly agree that four cents of every dollar spent by the Government of Ontario is wasted.

To many in the political class and the media, that idea is heresy. They insist it simply can’t be done.

These same commentators made these same comments during Mike Harris’s campaign. But the Harris team stayed the course, despite the concern of institutional worrywarts.

The result? The received wisdom was simply not right, and Harris was rewarded with a massive majority. Ontarians were fed up and that feeling of discontent simmers today.

So that’s Ford’s path to victory. He must continue telling his truths in the same real way that Ontarians believe. The man has a believability about him that other politicians just can’t capture.

There will be barrels of ink spilled on his errors and his approach, complaining that he simply doesn’t understand government and the nuances of policy. But many Ontarians feel our province is headed in the wrong direction. They might not be able to put their finger on it, but there is a deep-seated sense that the provincial government has gotten things wrong.

Doug Ford gives voice to that feeling of discontent. And regardless of what the experts say, it’s the Progressive Conservatives best chance to win government in a generation.

It will sometimes be tempting for political advisers to try to rein the leader in, or to make his messaging more professional and buttoned down. But that’s the exact wrong instinct.

A better instinct is to let Doug be Doug.

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/sta...-best-chance-for-a-pc-victory-in-ontario.html

If he gets more positive press like this, he's guaranteed a win.

Jamie Watt (the author) works for the party as a consultant, publicist, talking head. That doesn't mean that he's wrong but be aware that he is doing his job, here.

 

[Hoid]

Best chance for a PC victory in Ontario?

Jesus Christ the Liberals are at 18% popularity?

How could they possibly lose?

 

[Murphy]

You don't understand politics, Flossy. Study the moon charts, okay?

 

[Murphy]

And don't swear.