Liberals (and the rest of the opposition) will go negative right out of the gate!

The Liberals are already talking about how they will attack Harper's record and try and scare votes about Harper's "Hidden Agenda" in phase I of their election campaign.

The Liberals are preparing to open the campaign by attacking Mr. Harper's record in an attempt to hobble his advantage in the rankings as best person to be prime minister. They will leave their own platform for a second wave.

And while Liberal strategists deem an overt plea to prevent a Tory majority a strategic mistake – because it would imply they don't expect to win – some hinted the polls on the eve of this election campaign might at least shake up their voters.

“Canadians … will always have a thought in the back of their mind, which is, ‘Imagine if this were a majority Conservative government,'” said Montreal Liberal MP Denis Coderre.

Pathetic attacks. I am not sure that this will work like it worked in 2004/2006. Canadians have now seen over 900 days of Harper in action. Not much scary stuff has happened. No death penalty, no abortion laws, no soldiers on the street.

The Liberal strategists don't want to overplay this card too much -- no, not out of a sense of altruism -- but they don't want to admit defeat (yet).

But don't worry, their party strategists will have the trusty media on their side, with Liberal Party strategist Mr. Beer and Popcorn already talking about how the media will do it for them.

Scott Reid, who was communications director to prime minister Paul Martin, said the polls will force reporters to ask questions about a Conservative majority, even if the Liberals don't.

But he said voters remain skeptical of Mr. Harper, and the Liberals have to show he is cynical and manipulative. “He's a hundred kinds of nasty, he's a bully, and he's not looking out for your interests,” Mr. Reid said.

No Mr. Reid, he isn't looking out for your interests. And nice attempt at character assignation. Just this morning, a buddy of mine (from Atlantic Canada, and a Liberal) was commenting how he figured that Stephen Harper will get a majority as he has done a lot, especially for the military.

Gilles Duceppe is running scared as well:
“His objective is to enact his hidden agenda in its entirety, in a majority government,” Mr. Duceppe said at a news conference.

“That's what he wants, a majority government, and let's not fool ourselves, a majority is within his reach.”

This seems to be the oppositions election campaign meme.