Federal political strategists are advising party staffers to pace their leaders as they head into one of the longest election campaigns in modern history.
Speaking to CTV鈥檚 Power Play, Conservative strategist Jason Lietaer said that 鈥渟ometimes less is more鈥� when coordinating a leader鈥檚 campaign schedule. 鈥淵ou need a rested leader and if they (Liberals) were smart, they鈥檇 make sure he (Trudeau) was well-rested every time he was in front of the camera, rather than squeezing in that extra event,鈥� he said.
Lietaer said that Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will have a strong advantage in the campaigning department, as he has led so many before. But he admitted that Harper will need some down time, as will staff.
鈥淲ith basically 80 days, you鈥檝e got staff, you鈥檝e got a leader 鈥� who could be burned out,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his one (election) is so far out that you actually have to pace yourself and I think people are going to have to take some days off.鈥�
Liberal strategist Carlene Variyan said that all of the leaders have had time to train and test their limits for the election campaign, knowing the fixed election date of Oct. 19.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a marathon. It鈥檚 not a sprint,鈥� Variyan said of the 78-day campaign.
NDP strategist Shay Purdy acknowledged Leader Tom Mulcair鈥檚 鈥渟low start鈥� to the election campaign. He said Mulcair needs to find his daily flow that will get him through the months ahead.
鈥淔or Jack Layton, who I campaigned with in 2008 and 2011, exercise is what got him through his days,鈥� said Purdy.
Focus on the economy
The Conservatives kicked off the campaign Sunday by unveiling their election bus with the slogan 鈥淧roven leadership for a safer Canada stronger economy.鈥�
Lietaer said the party is confident in its decision to campaign on Harper鈥檚 economic agenda, as they have in past elections.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to run against perfection 鈥� You鈥檝e just got to beat your opponents. And our bet, and I think the prime minister鈥檚 right on this, is that he鈥檚 going to beat Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Trudeau in a contest on the economy.鈥�
But the opposition doubts Canadians will buy that.
Purdy says the Conservatives are taking a 鈥渂it of a gamble鈥� pushing so hard on the economy, as the playing field between all three federal parties has 鈥渓evelled.鈥�
And Variyan reminded viewers of the Conservatives鈥� economy-focused campaigns in 2008 and 2011. She said voters won鈥檛 be fooled by the Harper Conservatives鈥� again, especially with a plummeting Canadian dollar.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 push a reset button every time there is an election. Canadians have long memories,鈥� said Variyan. 鈥淔ool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. So this is a third time.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think that message 鈥� is actually going to be as successful as it has been in the past.鈥�
