Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 3, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a6 a 6 Winnipeg repress. Com election 2008 Winnipeg free press Friday october 3, 2008 the Campaign in this West Winnipeg Riding got off to a Rocky Start for the liberals. Four Days before prime minister Stephen Harper called the oct. 14 election the prospective grit candidate or. Rick Ross bowed out for an unspecified reason. Into the breach jumped Bob Friesen former president of the Canadian federation of agriculture and an sex Wawanesa hog and Turkey Farmer. Friesen had spent most of the past decade living in Ottawa lobbying for Farmers. But Friesen said his experience is a perfect fit for people living in the largely residential area. Pounding the table for Farmers in Ottawa is the same As pounding the table for people in the Riding he said. The 53 year old Friesen sees it As his Mission to unseat conservative incumbent Steven Fletcher. However Friesen has his work Cut out for him because Fletcher is a giant killer. Four years ago Fletcher was the dark horse up against Glen Murray the Star Liberal candidate and former mayor who then prime minister Paul Martin had lured into the Federal political game amid great fanfare. But Fletcher not Only beat Murray he also made history by becoming the first quadriplegic elected to parliament. Fletcher was re elected in 2006 after beating Liberal John Loewen. Loewen is running again in this election but in the Riding of Winnipeg South. Following the 2006 election Fletcher was named parliamentary Secretary to the health minister. Fletcher said hers not resting on his laurels. One thing Ive Learned in life is to work hard All the time he said. And dont take anything for granted. For Friesen the big three issues at the door Are health care child care and crime. Friesen said Many seniors living in the Riding Are worried about Access to doctors and affordable medication while Young working families Are worried about stable child care. Crime and what should be done about it extends to Young and old voters. For Fletcher the issues in the Campaign Mirror world events. In the Early Days he says it was Public safety. Then All people wanted to talk about was rising Gas prices. Now its All about the Economy hands Down Fletcher said. He said whats happening on Wall Street and Stock exchanges around the world bodes Well for the conservatives. A Strong Economy is the Best Way to ensure there is Money for environmental Protection he said. The nip have also recognized the daunting task of beating Fletcher. The new democrats have fielded 27 year old Fiona Shiells As their candidate. Shiells is a special assistant to family services minister Gord Mackintosh. This is her second time taking a plunge for the party last year she was the nip candidate in River Heights in the provincial election but came in a Distant third. This time Shiells says Sheds taking a Good run at Fletcher As there appears to be Little support for Friesen and the liberals. The liberals Are non existent she said. People see the nip As the party of Choice and the Only alternative to the Harper government. Also running Are Green party candidate Brian Timlick and Christian heritage party candidate Mark Price. Bruce. Owen free press. My. Ca p rime minister Stephen harpers steady As she goes approach to global economic turmoil has Strong voter endorsement in Winnipeg a new free press insiders Survey suggests. Harpers response to the u. S. Financial sector meltdown and wild Stock Market gyrations was backed by 46 per cent of 2,635 members of the insiders panel who answered an online Survey conducted on tuesday and wednesday. Nip Leader Jack Lay tones urgent Call for an emergency meeting of Federal party leaders and new policies to Deal with rising fears of a Canadian economic downturn was endorsed by 27 per cent. But Liberal Leader Stephane Dionys response largely an attack on the minority conservative governments economic performance was backed by just 22 per cent of insiders suggesting he has so far failed to capitalize on the Strong economic legacy of the Chretien Martin years. Tories scoring Points the conservative Campaign performance in the past week was also Given top Marks As it was in every weekly insiders Survey since the election was called on sept. 7. But the nip Campaign is striking a More responsive chord among voters As Liberal Appeal fades dramatically the Survey indicates. About 28 per cent of insiders said they were most impressed by the tory Campaign in the past week compared to 23 per cent who chose the nip and 15 per cent who cited the liberals. Still fully 26 per cent said none of the parties impressed them a level of voter indifference that has remained consistently High throughout the Campaign. Conservatives Well ahead asked which part yes candidate they would vote for if an election were held today 38 per cent of insiders backed the conservatives 21 per cent chose the liberals and 20 per cent opted for the nip with the greens at seven per cent. About 14 per cent said they were still undecided. Little changed since 2006 among decided voters party support is remarkably similar to the 2006 election results. The conservatives Are at 44 per cent the liberals at 25 per cent and the nip at 24 per cent in the insiders poll All less than two Points off their showing last time around. But the Survey also suggests that a significant portion of this party support is soft and that rankings could change substantially by voting Day. Voters switching sides while 13 per cent of insiders say they have been undecided throughout the Campaign and remain so today 12 per cent said they have moved away from their initial party preference at the Start of the Campaign and Are now Uncertain. Another 11 per cent said they ave already switched parties since the writ was dropped. So far this voter volatility has produced a huge slide in Liberal support in Ridings across the City with the exception of South Winnipeg. In Winnipeg Centre Winnipeg North and Elmwood Transcona Liberal candidates Are attracting half the support their party got in the 2006 election. Last weeks firing of Liberal candidate Lesley Hughes in Kildonan St. Paul has Given a Windfall boost to nip candidate Ross Eadie though not nearly enough to Knock off incumbent tory Joy Smith. Eadie now has 31 percent support among decided insider voters up 11 Points in the last week to Smiths 55 per cent. Hughes who announced yesterday she will continue to Campaign As an Independent retains support from about nine per cent of Riding voters the insiders Survey suggests. She will remain on the ballot As a Liberal because her dismissal by Dion Over a 2002 column on the 9/ 11 terrorist attacks came too late to change the ballot. In the swing Riding of St. Boniface where conservative challenger Shelly Glover has led consistently since the first insiders poll in Early september incumbent Liberal Ray Simard has now dropped to 26 per cent of decided insider voters Down 13 Points from his 2006 election tally. Glover leads with 57 per cent. In Winnipeg Centre and Winnipeg North both Safe nip seats Liberal support has nosedive to just 11 per cent of decided voters less than half the part yes 2006 showing in these Ridings the Survey indicates. Incumbent new Democrat Pat Martin is leading comfortably with 39 per cent of decided voters in Winnipeg Centre. But disaffected Liberal voters have flocked to Green party candidate Jessie Klassen who is now running second in the Riding at 24 per cent. In Winnipeg North my Judy was lycia leis retains a Strong Lead with 55 per cent support. Her closest challenger conservative Ray Larkin has faded recently but is still polling 10 Points above his part yes showing in the 2006 election at 27 per cent of decided insider voters in the Riding. Thought to be a swing Riding with the retirement of longtime new Democrat my Bill Blaikie Elmwood Transcona voters appear to have solidified behind his successor Jim Maloway. Both he and tory Thomas Steen have gained from the Liberal collapse but its still 53 35 for Maloway among decided insiders. Liberals firm in South the election Story continues to be a markedly different tale in Winnipeg South and Winnipeg South Centre where Liberal fortunes appear to be relatively immune to the dynamics of the National campaigns. Its still very much a horse race in Winnipeg South with tory incumbent Rod Bruinooge narrowing the mid Campaign Lead of Liberal challenger John Loewen to four Points 44 to 40 per cent of decided insider voters. Bruinooge won the Riding in 2006 by just 111 votes Over former Liberal Cabinet minister Reg Alcock. All three of Anita Nevilles opponents in Winnipeg South Centre have gained slightly in the past week cutting the Liberal a pcs Lead by six Points. But Sheds still ahead 43 per cent to 35 per cent for tory challenger Trevor Kennerd among decided insider voters in the Riding. Tory incumbents Steven Fletcher Charleswood Assiniboia St. James and James Bezan Selkirk Interlake have Little to fear on the Campaign Trail both have better than 2 to 1 leads Over their Liberal and nip opponents respectively. By John Sullivan insider information results Are based on an online Survey of 2,635 members of the Winnipeg free press insiders panel conducted on sept. 30 and oct. 1. With about 6,300 current members the insiders panel is open to All Manitoban 14 and older. While the Survey results Are weighted for age and gender they do not necessarily reflect the views of the Winnipeg or Manitoba population. However the Sample size is much larger than that used in National surveys by traditional polling companies during the election Campaign. K Kildonan St. Paul candidate Lesley Hughes turfed by the liberals last week will run As an Independent but confusing elections Canada rules say she probably cant spend any Money. Ism in no candidates land quipped Hughes thursday As she announced she would serve As an Independent my if elected on oct. 14. Her official agent the one registered with elections Canada is a Liberal and has refused to authorize any More spending. Unless Hughes can navigate red tape and get a new official agent approved Over the remaining 12 Days of the Campaign she cant buy signs print brochures rent an office or fund a phone Bank without running afoul of the rules. Hughes will still be Able to door Knock and speak at forums and debates things that Are free. Meanwhile Liberal sen. Sharon Carstairs the Manitoba Campaign co chair said the party will move in to Clear Hughes office on Henderson Highway Recycle the Lawn signs and tidy up the Loose ends of the Campaign. She said no candidate that Sheds Ever heard of has been in Hughes situation on the ballot under the Liberal Banner but turfed from the party and still running a Public Campaign As an Independent. The rules said Carstairs Are murky and Sheds had Calls from confused liberals in the Riding wondering who to vote for. Ive told people to vote for the candidate they think has the Best Chance of defeating prime minister Stephen Harper said Carstairs. Hughes said she is also considering suing those who called her an anti semite for a column she wrote in 2002 about the sept. 11 terrorist attacks in which she suggested the american government alerted by other governments including Israel knew of the impending attacks and did nothing. She also wrote that israeli companies vacated the area before the attacks. Those musings which Echo a chorus of conspiracy theorists got her punted from the Liberal party and slammed As an anti semite. Ism told i have a very Strong Case for slander and defamation against both Harper and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said Hughes. Hughes will face off against tory my Joy Smith nip candidate Ross Eadie Green Kevan Bowkett Christian heritage candidate Jordan Loewen and fellow Independent Eduard Hiebert. My original goal was to take a chair out from under prime minister Stephen Harper Hughes said at a news conference at her former Liberal Headquarters. So i ought to be consistent and do that. Her firing and the allegations of anti semitism were mystifying and terribly wounding said Hughes who added her comments written six years ago were based on sound research at the time and were taken out of context. The hysteria that arose because of her column should serve As a warning to anyone who cares about Freedom of speech she added. Maryagnes. Welch free press. My. Ca with files from the Canadian press Charleswood St. James Assiniboia Battleground candidates Steven Fletcher conservative Robert Friesen Liberal Fiona Shiells nip Mark Price Christian heritage party Brian Timlick Green results of 2006 Federal election Steven Fletcher 20,791 con John Loewen 16,099 lib Dennis Kushyk 5,669 nip Michael Johannson 1,700 Green giant killers become the giant Fletcher Man to beat this time around by Bruce Owen fired Liberal still in the race Lesley Hughes vows to sit As Independent my by Mary Agnes Welch the daily voter Riding Charleswood St. James Assiniboia voting Liberal Stephen Harper terrifies me. I dont like his policy on immigration Ruth Lee John Woods / the Canadian press former Liberal candidate Lesley Hughes left with Campaign manager Selina Bieber announces her plan to run As an Independent thursday. Insiders say Harper strongest on Economy a 06_ oct 03 08. Ind a6 10/ 2/ 08 8 24 04 pm ;