Narrow NDP lead; the reasons

An opinion poll released today shows the federal NDP with a slight lead over the Liberals.  In the same poll, the NDP is just one point behind the Conservatives.  I don't have a huge amount of confidence in opinion polls, but when they show results I like, it's easier to be accepting of them.

There are several reasons this could be happening.  Liberal collaboration with the Conservatives on passing the rotten Bill C-51 (anti-terrorism legislation) in the House of Commons is the first reason.  Most Canadians might prefer minimal political discussion and involvement in their lives, but they certainly know when a politician is being insincere, and Justin Trudeau was insincere about Bill C-51.  One cannot speak so floridly about civil liberties and rights and then support legislation that has the potential to limit those liberties and rights.  On top of this, the Liberals are proving they're completely loopy and inconsistent.  Although not part of the official Liberal caucus, Senators who are members of the Liberal Party are planning to vote against the legislation.  So basically the elected Liberals showed no effectiveness as opposition members and collaborated with the government while the unelected Liberals in the Senate--parliament's very own museum, are voting against the bill.

The continuation of Canada's very own publicly-funded soap opera, the Mike Duffy trial, could also be another reason.  An increasing amount of evidence has been presented indicating manipulation, obfuscation, and distortion of the situation involving the suspicious Senator goes right to the highest levels of Prime Minister Harper's staff.  Again, Canadians might like their government to stay quiet between elections, but they don't like being taken for granted and insulted.  The alleged behaviour in the Prime Minister's Office is insulting to Canadians, not just on the Duffy question, but in the authoritarian, arrogant, and corrupt way it has functioned throughout the government of its current occupant.

The last reason is that Tom Mulcair is doing a good job at showing he's a decent guy.  Every time I've seen him in the news lately, he's been smiling.  He's also demonstrating he has the genuine ability to connect with ordinary people in a positive way.  Mr. Harper however makes it very clear that he does not like being around ordinary people.  They ask too many questions, they have emotions, they may not agree with him completely.  Mr. Harper doesn't like those things.  Mr. Trudeau, although I'm told he's extremely personable and friendly by friends who have met him, doesn't really need to connect with ordinary people.  He could stand in front of a crowd shouting obscenities and still enthrall the women with his looks and both genders with the fact he's the son of Pierre and Margaret.  Unfortunately for the Liberals, Mr. Trudeau's appearance and lineage is about the extent of the substance they have when it comes to offering real change for ordinary working Canadians--not just the abstract definition of the middle class he purports his tax credits, which is nothing but a Liberal version of what the Conservatives already do through bribing you with your own money.