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DAY WINS DEBATE BY STANDING STRONGER ON RIGHT TO LIFE

OTTAWA, Nov 10 (LSN.ca) - Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day was the hands down winner in last nights Leaders debate according to CTV news and Sun Media polls. They show (early this morning) nearly 70% of respondents chose Day as the winner with the closest rival around 20%. A breakdown of the debate showed Day performed especially well in the early part of the debate despite the fact that the "abortion" question was raised.

The abortion issue that has caused Day so much trouble over the past week disappeared as an issue of contention. Day addressed it honestly saying:
"these are very sensitive topics and I think the ultimate of respect has to be accorded to all people who are involved in those discussions. I've said every year of the 14 years that I have been involved in government that I happen to be one of those people who believe life begins at conception. Many doctors agree with that, many do not. Many citizens agree with that, many do not. But I've always said that it should be talked about in a very respectful way. The Canadian alliance itself doesn't have a position on that particular topic, but we do have a position saying if citizens want to discuss issues and we want to discuss things, they can be free to do that. We even propose referendum on any variety of issues that citizens, not members of parliament, that citizens feel are important to them..."

Once presented in this manner the other leaders were left without a footing on which to attack Day, although Day missed an opportunity to attack vulnerabilities of the other leaders on the issue. Even the abortion-hungry media were only able to say that Day held his ground.

Day attacked the Liberals for their continuing refusal to act on the Jan. 1999 Sharpe decision which overturned B.C.'s law on child pornography possession. He stated to Chretien, "You put the rights of pedophiles over children" and added, "When the government of the land refuses to protect the children of the land from the predators of the land, that government should forfeit the right to govern the land." Chretien gave the standard Liberal response that his government was respecting the law and letting the issue be resolved by the courts. Day's quick comeback was to ask the PM why then was he trying to gag free speech by pushing a law limiting third-party election spending which the courts have repeatedly rejected.

Given the positive results from both from the public and even from the media, social conservative Alliance supporters hope Day will continue a straightforward strategy and finally add some well-reasoned articulation of his social conservative views, demonstrating a confidence in his convictions. Political observers note that last night's improved performance by Day must continue and be expanded in order to win over committed social conservative Liberal voters.

For the Sun Media poll see:
http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWS/polls.html

For CBC coverage of the abortion question in the debate:
http://cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/electionview.cgi?/news/2000/11/09/values001109

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