The Westmount Examiner today released its review of the all Candidates debates held at Westmount High this past Wed August 27 and, as you can read for yourself, came as close to declaring me the outright winner as is possible without actually doing so ! Conspicuous in its absence is any mention of the performances of Marc and Guy ( but having watched them go through three debates now there is no doubt that they are both extraordinary and engaging in their own ways).

Obviously, this is a triumph for our party's platform and for me personally. It has been so hard, through four previous elections, to watch the other candidates arrive with their retinue of staffers, pollsters, writers, researchers as I stroll in totally alone into a room full of clearly partisan supporters.

But boy has it made me strong.

I am now at a place where I can literally forego the reams of prepared statements that my competitors arrive with and really engage audiences in an authentic and impropmtu manner. And though the room is filled with supporters from the other parties, I can see people's eyes widen in surprise and delight at what I am bringing to the table. I can see their heads nodding involuntarily in agreement and I can hear their enthusisatic applause, appreciative for having heard the truth spoken so boldly. Needless to say, It is nice to have my intuition of the success of the debates for us confirmed in such a glowing manner as the Examiner did!

Photo found on Flickr.