March 27, 2007 - I have had conversations with many federal Liberals this morning who are trying to spin that Jean Charest's precipitous drop is an indication that Stephen Harper's pull in Quebec is limited. I don't assess the situation at all in the same way.

The ADQ has proven that there is a willingness for the Quebec electorate to embrace more fiscal and social conservative values; what has occurred is a major shift in policy preferences rather than just simply a protest vote.

This then means that for the first time in many years, the federalist options will wage a battle of ideas along distinct ideological lines. With that context in mind, the ability of both platforms to curry favour will now constitute a closer contest than one would have predicted a mere month ago.

Liberals diminish this development at their own peril.

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