[fanfan]

I will never forget last election. Harper came out against subsidies and Martin threw money at the Ontario auto parts industry.

The seminal moment for me was a day or two before the election when Harper went back to Calgary, and was caught on film saying "the west wants in".

At that moment, I saw (in my minds eye) thousands of Ontarians saying to themselves...'Oh. That's the hidden agenda'. IMHO, that's when he lost the last election.

That, and the smug look he had on his face the last few days of the campaign. We expect smug from the Liberals, but not from our leader. Maybe that's why I like GWB so much. He doesn't get that smug look on his face until AFTER he's won.

[Sam Gamgee]

I think you are entirely correct. All Harper was saying was finally the West can participate. But that was enough for High Tories in Ontario. “The West? O my God. They still chew on toothpicks and go outside to take a piss. We have Bay Street. We’re sophisticated. Can’t have those Ford truck drivers in Ottawa.”