New Democratic Party leader Howard Hampton‘s visit to Waterloo Region, mid-campaign, had at least two strategic agendas. And for some observers, where party leaders turn up says as much about party strategy as where they don’t show.
The crowd was bathed in a sea of orange, the NDP’s upbeat campaign colour, when Hampton arrived at the University of Waterloo. He was at the Student Life Centre September 24 to show off his local hopefuls and build support among students.
NDP candidates Catherine Fife (Kitchener-Waterloo), Rick Moffat (Kitchener Centre) and Mark Cairns (Kitchener-Conestoga) were present to welcome their party leader. Candidate Fife believes Hampton’s visit ignites the local race.
“It provides new energy,” says Fife. “It demonstrates that Howard and the provincial team have confidence in this riding and in our ability to run a very strong campaign. There’s an opportunity for us to make some headway here, so Howard’s visit was validation for me as a candidate that this riding is on the radar of the provincial office.”
R. Peter Woolstencroft, political scientist at the University of Waterloo, a veteran observer of political campaigns, concurs. “It’s invigorating, it suggests the district is important and that the leader has been advised that the candidate is worthy of support.”
But, Woolstencroft adds, a leader’s visit also has to have payback. That means media exposure.
“Kitchener-Waterloo gets a lot of attention because we have a CTV outlet here,” says Woolstencroft. “If that television station wasn’t here — was in Hamilton, for example — we’d get no exposure. We also benefit from a local newspaper that has some wide coverage. That’s certainly a consideration.”
John Milloy, the Liberal incumbent for Kitchener-Centre notes that there are so many demands on the party leader’s time that the provincial office often must downplay candidates’ expectations for a visit from their leader. “Sometimes the provincial office tells you that having the leader elsewhere is a good thing, since they’re confident the campaign is in good hands and he’s focusing elsewhere in the province.”
Dalton McGuinty was able to pay a “territorial” visit to Milloy. McGuinty made a campaign stop at an area hospital. “He wasn’t technically in my riding at the time, but he was on the border of the neighbouring riding, so I’ll claim him too. So, he’s been here and he’s coming here, and it’s always good to see him.”
Waterloo University was an opportune choice for Hampton to reiterate his promise to roll back post secondary tuition fees and freeze them at 2003 levels. The receptive audience heard Hampton criticize McGuinty’s record, claiming that Ontario students pay higher tuition than students elsewhere in Canada, and graduate university owing on average $22,700 in debt.
Fife says “Howard’s…paying attention to the issues of this riding. It backs up the local candidate’s message that, in this instance, the students, almost a third of the population here, matter to us.”
Woolstencroft suggests that the visit was more than just about winning votes. It’s about winning converts to the cause.
“Howard Hampton came to the University of Waterloo because the party was hopeful that one or two people would get energized enough to join the party, volunteer, and possibly run for office someday. To say that you’ve met a leader can be quite meaningful and empowering and motivating and this is the time when people are attentive and interested.”
In his speech, Hampton noted that his rollback and freeze of tuition fees would cost $200 million per year. He says he’d cover the cost by raising tobacco taxes. He also promises to increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour, a welcome message for students trying to limit school debt while juggling part time jobs and classes.
Editors note: local candidates may like to bask in the reflected light of party leaders, but how important is the role of the local candidate in representing your ridings’ major issues before the framers of their party’s election platform? If candidates are ill-informed about your political concerns, whom do you fault?
Your Agenda: Campaign Tales 